The healthcare system in France is one of the best in the world and until 2007 all EU expats were eligible to join it. A new French Government ruling at this timed changed the eligibility for those under retirement age. For those who are officially retired, the system remains the same. So that you can check your own eligibility, here is a brief checklist of every case scenario:

Holidaying in France but living elsewhere in the EU

In this case you will need to have a plastic European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) and that goes for each member of your family, including children. This entitles you to “necessary” healthcare and covers the same costs as if you were a contributor to the state health system. However, it is wise still to take out some private health insurance since the EHIC does not cover such things as repatriation or the total care costs. You can obtain your EHIC in the UK here: www.ehic/org.uk.

Being a resident in France (retired or not)

In this case the EHIC does not apply. If you are officially retired you are able to join the French healthcare system as before and to do so, you need to visit your local office of CPAM (Caisse Primaire Assurance Maladie). You will find this office in practically every French town. You will need to take with you an E121 form from the UK which states you are in receipt of a UK state pension.  The form is available from the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) www.dwp.gov.uk.

Note that if you are entitled to Incapacity Benefit, you will receive almost all of your medical treatment free regardless of whether this treatment is linked to the condition that originally put you on Incapacity Benefit. You will still have to pay for every day medicaments and such items as glasses and painkillers etc.

When you go to the CPAM office you will need to take with you the following:

Passport, Certificate of marriage, Birth Certificate, Proof of French address, an RIB (from your French bank account).

You will then receive your “carte vitale” which you need to take with you whenever you visit your doctor and when you pick up prescribed medicines at the pharmacy. If you are not retired you will need to take exactly the same documents to the CPAM office but instead of the E121 form you need the E106 form which will cover you for a period of up to 2 years (depending on your National Insurance contributions in the last 2 UK income tax years). Once it expires you will have to take out private health insurance until you reach state retirement age or five years of residency.

If you plan to live and also work in France you will have to affiliate as a resident and make some financial contribution. Most French people take out at least some private health insurance so that they are covered for every eventuality. It is worth noting that about 75% of total health expenditure in France is covered by the public insurance system with the rest being paid by the patient and private health insurance companies. The system works well and in general treatments in France are thorough and extensive.