Healthcare Update December 4, 2007

The French government is due to publish an internet update relating to state healthcare eligibility for early retiree expatriates “in the middle of this week.”

Social security spokeswoman Stéphanie Gaillard has not detailed the site address for this but last time an update was made it was at www.securitesociale.fr/comprendre/europe/europe/cmu_inactifs.htm

The update is the explanatory “circular.” This was originally due to be released at the start of October. The date was then delayed until November 23 and, more recently, to the end of last week.

Ms Gaillard previously said it was sent to a central body for distribution to CPAMs (regional health authorities) on November 23. It is advised that people should delay contacting their local CPAM for information until the internet update is made and CPAM workers are adequately briefed.

The Connexion was told by Health Ministry spokeswoman Ophélie Rota in November that early retiree expatriates already affiliated to the French state healthcare system through CMU were to be allowed to continue to do so. This was a change from the announcement of a ban for all early retiree expats, effective from next April, on the French government website mentioned above. This ban is still listed on the site. The Connexion was also told in November that early retiree newcomers to France would not be able to benefit from state healthcare (even by payment) and will, instead, have to take out private health insurance.

It has not been disclosed whether concessions may be made to those whose E106s are due to run out and who may have serious illnesses and therefore not be able to take out private insurance.

The British Europe Minister, Jim Murphy, has complained about the delay of information to his French counterpart. He has posted on his website (http://blogs.fco.gov.uk/blogs/jim_murphy) that “the absence of new information is frustrating.” He adds: “We are still awaiting the official response from the French Health Ministry, which was expected at the end of last week. We have been informed today that full details on the French position and a Q&A factsheet will be issued this week. We have expressed our concern to the French authorities over the continuing delay.”

The reforms do not affect expatriates who have reached British state retirement age and who hold an E121 or are working in France whether self-employed or employees. Nor do they affect those holding an E106 – however, such people may be affected when the E106 runs out and they are not yet of an age to be eligible for an E121.

The Connexion has outlined how the Ministry told us that the decision not to ban state healthcare to those already in the CMU was taken after a meeting with the British Embassy in Paris. The embassy is not commenting on the situation but has posted an entry on its website stating that “a revised statement to clarify the situation is due very shortly from the French Health Ministry.”

Mary Honeyball, Labour MEP for London, is still drumming up support for a declaration to the European Parliament, in which she is asking MEPs to support the idea of reciprocal healthcare. They have until mid-January to sign up, but she needs half of the MEPs to back it for it to be carried. She wants expats who are legally resident in another EU country to be treated the same as nationals. Her political adviser Mark Nottingham, told us about 75 of the MEPs – only about 10% - are supporting the motion so far. He said: “There are only about three French ones, which is disappointing, but quite a lot of Brits, across the whole party spectrum, apart from the UK Independence Party, which is consistent with their politics. We also have good support from Eastern Europe but no-one from Spain or Italy.”