French Health Issues
Lobbying for your healthcare rights in France and the EU
If you consider that you will be classed “inactif” by the French authorities then we suggest you take the following action before moving to France.
If you are under UK retirement age
If you are receiving a UK National Insurance Retirement Pension
If you are receiving UK Government Incapacity Benefit
Firstly, contact the Department for Work and Pensions (see here under E106) several months before you plan to move, and see whether you are entitled to form E106 by virtue of your NI contributions. This form will enable you, and normally your family and dependants to affiliate to the French health service for up to 2½ years, though in reality the rules are such that many people get less.
If you are entitled to a form E106, make an early application to ensure its receipt before you leave the UK. (After moving to France this will be the evidence you require to satisfy the immigration rules.)
We also advise that, at this stage, you investigate the costs and possible restrictions of comprehensive Private Health Insurance. (See our section “Insurance”). This will give you an idea of costs and possible problems that may arise when your form E106 expires.
You will be obliged to take out a Private Healthcare policy for yourself and your family upon expiry of form E106, (assuming you will not start receiving UK National Insurance Retirement Pension before or immediately after your form E106 expires).
After 5 years’ legal and continuous residence you will be able to join the French health system. Note that at this time you may be asked to provide evidence of earlier health cover to demonstrate that your residence was legal. Keep all documents.
Once you move to France you will also have to consider taking out ‘Top-Up insurance” as the French health service does not cover all medical costs.
If you are not entitled to a form E106 you will need to take out comprehensive private medical insurance for yourself and your family before moving to France. See our “Insurance” section for detailed information. (Note we cannot recommend individual companies or policies).
When you move to France the insurance certificate will be the evidence you require to satisfy the immigration rules.
Contact the Department for Work and Pensions (see here under E121) several months before you move and apply for forms E121 to cover yourself and your family. These forms will enable you to affiliate to the French health service for as long as you remain resident in France.
When you move to France this will be the evidence you require to satisfy the immigration rules.
Once you move to France you will also have to consider taking out ‘Top-Up insurance” as the French health service does not cover all medical costs.
Contact the Department for Work and Pensions (see here under E121) and apply for a form E121. This form will enable you and normally your family and dependants to affiliate to the French health service for as long as you have E121 form cover.
When you move to France this will be the evidence you require to satisfy the immigration rules.
Once you move to France you will also have to consider taking out ‘Top-Up insurance” as the French health service does not cover all medical costs for the dependants of the incapacity pension holder
Note: Incapacity Benefit in the UK is currently under review. We do not yet know whether this will result in some current forms E121 being withdrawn and how this will be treated by the French authorities; or whether future recipients of Incapacity Benefit or its replacement benefit will be entitled to a form E121.
For more in-depth information on residence rules and procedures – see here
To learn more about the French health system – see here
For information on private health insurance - including who sells policies - see here
For more information on E-forms - see here
