a UK state pension can transfer
their healthcare rights to France
via an S1 form (formally the
E121) and receive partial reimbursement.
If you don't have a
pension you'll need to consider
employment or self-employment - or prove
you have
enough income that you can
live off, and pay into the system
(couverture maladie universelle
or CMU).
Beware, though, that you
need to be resident for three
months before you can apply
for CMU so you are exposed
without cover until then, advises Johanna Matthews
of Exclusive
Healthcare. "You request
to join the French healthcare
system (CMU) by providing
paperwork such as tax forms
and bank statements," she says.
"If they refuse entry, you should
consider a private healthcare
policy (or take employment).
Until your paperwork is in order,
you could be liable for €1,000 a
day hospital treatment (with no
reimbursement) so it is wise to
take out private healthcare as a
stop-gap."
TOP-UPS
Not to be confused with private
policies, top-up insurance
(mutuelle) is to cover the part of
treatments that the state does
not reimburse. There are many
levels of cover to suit different
needs and premiums vary by
region.
44 leggettfrance.com
HEALTHCARE LEGGETT MAGAZINE