CMU changes still filtering through

If you are an early-retiree still struggling to establish your rights to stay in, or join, the French healthcare system - you are not alone.

The Connexion continues to hear from readers across France whose local state healthcare bodies - CPAMs - are still not acknowledging the government's final position on the expatriate healthcare issue.

As we reported in our March edition, the official position is that those who were in the CMU regime as of November 23, 2007 can stay in it, annulling previous letters demanding people leave and get private health insurance by the end of March.

Those who had E106 forms on or before the same date are also eligible to join the CMU.

Many readers have had no confirmation from CPAMs despite repeated queries, Many still seem ignorant of the government policy change.

Jeffrey Salter, from Fougerolles in Mayenne said his E106 ran out in January.

She said: “I was told at the start of March I am no longer in the French health system and must get private insurance.

“We have been living here since November 2006.”

Janet O'Brien emailed to say friends had run up “massive unpaid hospital bills” since their E106 ran out in January and they were refused entry to the CMU.

“It is important you know this issue is still unresolved in many cases,” she said.

Graham Hughes (pictured with wife Judith), 49, from the Manche said his CPAM wrote in January saying his carte vitale would run out at the end of March unless he appealed.

“It’s unbelievable. I heard at the beginning of January some people in other departments were getting letters saying everything was OK but I got a letter saying were bring thrown out.

“I took an appeal letter to the office on February 12 and tried to talk to them, but they weren’t interested. They just logged it and said goodbye.”

He is particularly worried as he has an operation coming up. “I find it ludicrous when the government made its position clear months ago,” he said.

“I know France is sometimes bureaucratic but this is ridiculous. It has soured my view of France.”

We called the Manche CPAM who acknowledged the government changes and said they planned to send new letters to people concerned.

A spokeswoman for CNAMTS, the national body in charge of the CPAMs, said: “Some CPAMs are less used to dealing with expats than others, so may be slower to get up to speed on the changes.”

We advise that you continue to seek acknowledgement of your rights from your local CPAM office.

Please inform The Connexion of problems and we will pass the information on to the relevant bodies.

The CNAMTS English-speaking helpline is on 08 20 90 42 12.

The international social security body Cleiss is on 01 45 26 33 41.

Readers have reported difficulties with the following CPAMs:
Ile-et-Vilaine, Haute-Vienne, Tarn-et-Garonne, Mayenne, Morbihan, Lot-et-Garonne and Manche.
We hope this information will show other readers in similar situations that their case is not isolated and they should persevere.
Please continue to report difficulties to us at contact@connexionfrance.com