Early Retiree Expats In France Regain Healthcover

EU pressure has resulted in early retiree Expats being given easier access to France’s healthcare reimbursements.

London, UK (Pryce Warner International) July 7th, 2011 – France’s policy of not providing healthcare rights to early retiree Expats from EU countries who moved there with no plans to take up employment has been investigated by the European Commission.

The investigation has led to France re-opening access to French healthcare benefits to all EU citizens on the basis of the new EU regulation 883/2004.

The French healthcare system or CMU (Couverture Maladie Universelle) allows all residents to receive healthcare regardless of rights earned from working, something that early-retirees had previously enjoyed.

A ministerial circular ensuring benefits are enjoyed by all Expats, regardless of the amount of time they have spent working in France and their plans to work will be published this summer.

The circular is intended to clarify the ways in which an inactive EU citizen can legally live in France with state health insurance, bearing in mind new regulations on coordination, national legislation or a private state policy that offers similar provision to that of the state.

A spokeswoman for the Direction de la Sécurité Sociale, in charge of healthcare reimbursements commented that if necessary, a case-by-case examination will take place to allow individuals access to the CMU.

The initial dispute occurred after many Expats in France received letters from their health insurance providers that they would lose there healthcare rights and that in order to have any health cover they would be required to buy private policies.

This prompted the French government to clarify it’s position in 2007 in which it made exceptions which would allow some non-working Expats to access the CMU.

This prompted the European Commission to begin an investigation last year that ruled that this policy broke international rules regarding compatibility between different countries' healthcare systems.

Though Expats planning an early retirement in France will once again have access to public healthcare the European Commission is planning on monitoring the progress of the proposed governmental circular in order to ensure that it remains in compliance with EU law.

David Harra, a Senior Market & Investment Analyst with Pryce Warner International, a financial services provider for Expats, commented: “This is great news for Expats. Many Expats planning on retiring in France intend to do so before the official retirement age so it is great that so many will be once again able to enjoy the healthcare benefits that they are entitled to. France has often had a love/hate relationship with Expats and in the past this type of law has often been adjusted or altered a few years later so as to remove the benefits. Hopefully the EC will keep an eye on proceedings but all Expats should keep up to date on their rights to access public healthcare when planning their retirement in France.”

Pryce Warner International Group provide International Asset & Investment Management, Independent Financial Advice & QROPS Overseas Pensions.

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By: Aneil Fatania
Financial Editor
Pryce Warner International Group
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