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 are entitled to access to the CMU-C, provided they have lived in France for at least five years, or earlier, on condition they have broken their 'inactive' status through a period of employment or self-employment.

Likewise, even if they were in employment or business, if they met the income criteria, they would be entitled to access to the CMU-C.

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 as follows:


Table: CMU-C Income Thresholds - (Jul 09 - Jul 010)

Household	Annual Income
One Person	€7,521
Two People	€11,282
Three People	€13,538
Four People	€15,794
Five People	€18,803

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. Unlike most other social security benefits, it is not your net income as assessed by the tax authority that is used to determine eligibility, but a tougher test based on gross income.

In addition, 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 a couple it amounts to around €109 per month in 2009/10, revised each year. For a couple it is around €135 per month.

What this means, therefore, is that as a couple, if your gross income in 2009/10 was €10,000 per year, the authorities would assess your income as being around €11,000 in that year, 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) 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, nevertheless, be entitled to assistance with your voluntary health insurance costs.

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Next: Assistance with Voluntary Insurance

Back: Application Process into CMU