How do I get onto French Health Care
Posted by: RichardWood in Uncategorised on
Jun 16, 2009
I am a wheelchair user who wants to move with partner and daughters family to France but I am totally confused about the health care system and whether I will qualify for entry. Basic position is as follows:
I want to live in France as a resident but work in the UK where I do consultancy work. I am 60 years old and my plan was to work for 2 more years, communing to UK, and then get a E106 until retirement age and then an E121 to qualify.
If I work in the UK get paid here and pay UK taxes but live in France am I counted as active or inactive in France
If I set up a small business (we plan to run a Gite) in France will I then qualify.
Or
Worst case senario - because I am a disabled person can they bar me from the Health system anyway?
Any advice greatly welcomed
Ricahrd
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- you will not be covered in France if you are not paying into the French system (ie: Declared as working in France and paying French Sécu - National Insurance - to URSSAF)
- if you are living in France then that is where you should be paying income tax in principle and in law although not everyone does. But that doesn't mean you will be covered because in France there is a difference between income tax and "social charges". It is the social charges that give you the right to benefits and health cover.
- if you declare yourself a UK resident and pay in the UK you will only be entitled to emergency treatment in France through the EHIC (CEAM) card system.
- If you are a UK Blue Badge holder you will find that most municipalities accept it but a few won't. The Reporter can supply you with a short text in French to put next to your Blue Badge informing the French police that you are a visitor and that your badge should be respected. It usually is as long as you don't park in the same spot all day long. Just like in the UK, it is the local councils (municipalities) that fix the local rules.
- if you work and declare in the UK, even though you are a de facto French resident you will be considered inactive by the French. Since resident's cards are no longer obligatory for EU nationals they probably won't even know you're there unless you tell them.
- if you set up a legally declared French business you will indeed be covered by the French system. You will not be excluded from the national health care system because you are disabled. There is also a "mutuelle" (top-up) insurer specialising in people with disabilities. Their URL is www.integrance.fr