2. Registering with the Health Service in France

1. 2.1. Form E106 Health Cover
   2.2. Business Owners
   2.3. Working in UK & Living in France
   2.4. Persons of Retirement Age
   2.5. Early Retirees
   2.6. Visitors and Tourists
   2.7. French European Health Insurance Card

2.5. Health Cover in France for Early Retirees

If you are relocating from within the EEA to retire to France under the age of retirement, then the use of Form E106 is available on the same terms as outlined above in Section 2.1.

Once cover under Form E106 has expired then, hitherto, it has been possible to obtain continuing health cover in France under the Couverture Maladie Universelle (CMU).

However, in November 2007 the French Government introduced new rules that deny access to the CMU for early retirees from the EEA who do not take up employment, or start a business.

This private health insurance will also need to cover trips back to your home country, as you will not be eligible for a European Health Insurance Card, only available to those in the State system.

However, there are four important qualifications to the new rule on private health insurance for early retirees.

2.5.1. Medical Condition

Under the new regulations there is provision for those who later develop a medical condition that makes it impossible for them to obtain private medical insurance, to make application to join the CMU.

Although this would seem to exclude those who relocate with an existing medical condition, it remains to be seen just how the local health authorities interpret the regulations. Thus, it may well be that someone who has suffered from a life-long serious medical illness, or disability, would be admitted to the CMU.

You will need to prove a refusal of private health insurance on medical grounds in order to make application on this basis.

If you become affiliated to the CMU on medical grounds, then your spouse and dependants also automatically become affiliated.

2.5.2. 'Accident of Life'

The same provision also applies to those who relocate to France and later suffer some other 'accident of life', such as death of spouse or divorce. Such persons are also entitled to make application to join the State health system, the CMU.

If you become affiliated to the CMU as a result of an 'accident of life', then your spouse and dependants also automatically become affiliated.

This provision would also enable a 'dependant' younger spouse of a retired person who dies to retain their health cover.

2.5.3. Loss of Employment

If you take employment, or start a business in France, which later ceases (either through termination of contract, or because business does not succeed), then you will be able to make application to join the CMU.

This is because the new regulations only exclude those relocate without employment and remain 'inactive'. Once the cycle of 'inactivity' is broken, should you later become involuntarily unemployed, you would be entitled to continue to receive health cover, initially through your work based Caisse, but later through the CMU.

As to what is considered 'involuntary unemployed' would need to be determined by your circumstances. However, a temporary employment contract that came to end would certainly fulfill the criteria. Similarly, a new business you started that proved to be unsucessful would constitute circumstances that, prima facia, would entitle you to cease the activity and apply for affiliation to the State health system. You would need to check with your Caisse as to the application of the rule in your case.

You can read more at A Strategy for Health Cover.

It is also worth noting that if you run a business in France (during which you will have paid health and retirement contributions), you can retire at 60, and then receive health cover in your retirement.

2.5.4. Five Years Residence

Once you have been resident in France for 5 years, you will be entitled by law to join the CMU. Accordingly, if you arrive in France with two year cover through an E106, then the maximum period for which you will be required to take out private health insurance would be 3 years.

If you live outside the EEA and you relocate permanently to France as a retired person, you will need to check with the relevant authority in your home country whether there are any reciprocal agreements with France.

You will almost certainly be required to take out private medical insurance, as you will need to justify you have the resources not to be a burden on the French social security system and to have health insurance cover. This cover will need to be taken out before you will be granted your long-term residence permit.

Ultimately, however, if you establish a right of long-term residence in France, you will be able to make application to the CMU for State health insurance cover.