3. Couverture Maladie Universelle (CMU)

1. 3.1. Contribution Level into CMU
   3.2. Application Process for CMU
   3.3. Free Health Insurance(CMU-C)
   3.4. Assistance with Voluntary Insurance

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3.3. Free Health Insurance - CMU Protection Complémentaire

The CMU Protection Complémentaire (CMU–C) provides free health insurance cover for those on a low income, whether unemployed, employed, or self-employed.

'Inactive' expats under the age of retirement are entitled to access to the CMU-C, provided either:

1. i. They have lived in France for at least five years. or earlier, or:
2. ii. On condition they have broken their 'inactive' status through a period of employment or self-employment.

If you are actually in employment or business, provided you meet the income criteria, you would also be entitled to access to the CMU-C.

We are hearing reports of expats being denied access to the CMUC, even though they are clearly entitled, so if you are refused access, then get advice and challenge the decision!

The CMU-C is funded, in large measure, by a tax on voluntary 'top-up' health contributions.

If you are in receipt of CMU Complémentaire then, as a general rule, all medical and dental costs are fully covered and you will have no costs to pay, provided you always pass through your family doctor for medical services.

Unlike other health service users, those in receipt of CMU-C do not pay for their treatment and then seek reimbursement. The treatment is provided free of charge at the point of delivery, and it is the doctors and chemists who themselves then seek recovery of their fees and charges from the health service.

Doctors and specialists who treat you are required by the government to only charge the basic, official fee. There is evidence that some specialists do not always honour this rule, and that some CMU-C patients are being asked to pay additional fees, or simply refused treatment. In either case this practice is not permitted and should be reported to your local Caisse.

The current annual income thresholds for entitlement to CMU–C are not generous:


CMU-C Income Thresholds - (Jul 2011 - Jul 2012)

Household	Annual Income
One Person	€7,771
Two People	€11,656
Three People	€13,988
Four People	€16,319
Five People	€19,427

These income thresholds are per 'fiscal household'. That is to say, the income of all those living in the property is taken into account, provided all appear on the same income tax return. This would include children under 25 years and in employment, but who had elected to be part of the same household for tax purposes.

The reference period for determining your income is the previous twelve months.

If you do not have a mortgage on your property, then an additional sum is added to your income, to calculate your entitlement to CMU-C. This sum is called the forfait logement.

For the year commencing 1st July 2011 the level of this figure is €672 per year for a single person; for a couple it amounts to €1,176 per year; for a family of three or four persons it is €1,412 per year.

What this means, therefore, is that as a couple, if your income in the reference year was €10,000, the authorities would assess your notional income as being €11,176, simply because you have no accommodation charge to pay.

If your application for CMU-C is successful, you will be granted entitlement for a full year, irrespective of any change in your circumstances during this period. At the end of twelve months there will be a review of your entitlement, when you will be asked to complete a new test of resources.

Application can be made to your local Caisse (normally the Caisse Primaire d’Assurance Maladie or RSI) to whom you should provide proof of your income.

You can also download the Application for CMU-C

If your income is too high to receive entitlement to CMU-C, you may still be entitled to assistance with your voluntary health insurance costs.

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Next: Assistance with Voluntary Insurance

Back: Application Process into CMU