Healthcare after Brexit

We are British retirees who use S1 forms for healthcare and we are applying for French citizenship. After Brexit would we still be entitled to healthcare? C.F.

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THE general situation for S1 holders after Brexit is unknown at present. It may depend on the outcome of Brexit ‘article 50’ negotiations between the UK and EU, though campaigners have pointed out that promising to compensate expats for loss of this system is already in the UK’s power if it wished to act to reassure people.

Otherwise, qualifying for healthcare is based on residence – if you are considered to have been legally resident for more than three months, you may have it, but it may involve paying in 8% of your income from capital sources above a certain annual ceiling (€9,654) to qualify under ‘Puma’ rules.

However, French citizenship should solve any potential issues surrounding establishing legal residence – at present some British early retirees are required to take out comprehensive private policies as part of their residence criteria.

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