Charity warns over healthcare rights

Cancer Support France (CSF) says
healthcare implications of a Brexit have
been a “major cause for concern” at its
countrywide monthly drop-in meetings.
A spokeswoman said: “Many of these
fears are being expressed by people
already receiving treatment for their
cancers and by their carers and family.
“Others are worried should cancer
strike in the future.
“Given that many Britons have moved
to France because of the excellence of
French healthcare, June’s referendum is
the stuff of nightmares.”
She said CSF is advising, firstly, that
people should not panic, because nothing
would change immediately. The
body is also urging people who are able
to to make use of their vote.
A spokesman for the international
social security advisory body Cleiss,
Jean-Paul Le Tertre, said: “One thing is
certain - even if the UK voted to leave
the EU, the actual process will be a long
one. If the UK leaves, then it would
have to renegotiate its agreements with
the countries of Europe and probably
conclude a bilateral convention with
France. This process would take years.
“Meanwhile, the situation for a British
pensioner already living in France could
be the following: as far as he or she has
acquired the right to reside in France but
no longer retains any right to have
healthcare paid for by the UK, he or she
could nevertheless benefit from the
French Protection Universelle Maladie
(which replaced the former CMU),
which was created for people who do not
work but live in France permanently.”
Early-retiree EU citizens may currently
benefit from this either at the state’s
discretion before five years or as a result
of having obtained ‘permanent residence’
rights after that. In future it
could also become relevant for OAPs if
the S1 form system no longer applies.
In the light of the uncertainty over
what arrangements would apply in the
event of the UK formally leaving (which
would take place at least two years after
the referendum) it may be advisable for
any Briton who has been in France for
more than five years to apply to their
prefecture for a ‘permanent’ residents’
card (carte de séjour EU - séjour permanent),
as some legal experts believe this
may confer proof of an ‘acquired right’
of residence.
As an added precaution, however, and
especially if you have been in France for
less than five years, it may be advisable
to investigate the possibility of taking out
a comprehensive private health insurance
policy, should it become necessary.
In the event of the UK leaving, workers
should still be eligible for healthcare due to
their social security payments (assuming
their right to work is not compromised).
For your nearest CSF branch call 0800
240200 or visit cancersupportfrance.org