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Exclusive Healthcare SA France
Health Insurance for Amercian Expatriates Living or Coming to Live in France
These notes have been prepared to assist you if you are currently living in France or contemplating doing so. It is not surprising that many people choose France as their home after they have retired.
France not only offers a new adventure in the Old World but perhaps the expectation of a longer and more active retirement than most other countries in the world. It is a beautiful country stretching from the Channel in the North with the English coast just across the water, to the Mediterranean in the South with Africa just the other side of the horizon. In most cases these places are a short distance away by car, ship or air. |
Exclusive Healthcare specialises in insuring and caring for people world wide on the move to France.
The following paper is not a complete description of the French system which is the subject of many pages of rules and regulations. We hope however, we have provided you with an overall picture of the system and an understanding of what your rights are and how you can live in France in security and enjoyment of perhaps the world's best healthcare system at the lowest possible cost.
The Medical Service in France
Health care and health facilities in France are excellent. France spends a greater proportion of her GNP on health than on defence. Standards are high; the public and private sectors operate alongside one another and the quality of treatment offered by each one is virtually the same. It should be noted also, that there is no lack of capacity. You will not have to wait for treatment or for a bed and unless you are hospitalised in an emergency, you can go into the clinic or general hospital of your choice. It is worth comment that a ward in a French hospital generally consists of not more than four beds and usually only two in the more modern establishments. Private rooms are readily available. A recent report on world medical care produced by the World Health Organisation placed France above all other countries in the world.
The French service however, unlike many national health services is not a completely free service so even if you are registered for healthcare you will need a top-up insurance policy. It should be noted that the French service, plus a good private top-up policy, will provide you and your loved ones with the best medical insurance possible.
Special Note
This paper is primarily concerned with medical care because this is our area of expertise and where we can help you to understand the steps necessary to live out a long and active retirement free of worry. However, it is appropriate to cover the legal aspects of coming to live in France and what you need to do before leaving the US.
As an American citizen you need to visit the French Consulate General nearest your home and apply for a Long Term Visa. Without this Visa you cannot stay in France legally for more than three months. Failure to do this will mean having to return to the US in person to make an application. The Application proceedures take the Consular Service up to three months to complete because your Application along with other required documents must be sent to Paris for approval. You have to collect your Visa in person and it will simplify the process if you allow yourself enough time from the beginning. If you have dual nationality (ie a French citizens passport as well) the situation will be different and may not require any further work by you in preparation for your move to France. As always we recommend that you confirm this and ensure that the French passport is current and has not expired.
If one spouse or the other is French or a citizen of an EU member state a Long Term Visa may not be required. In such cases you should consult with your nearest French Consulate General and confirm that that the holder's passport is current and has not expired.
When making an Application you will be asked to provide evidence that you have the means to live in France.
In addition, it is important to note that you will have to provide proof of medical cover in France effective upon arrival. See Appendix 1.
If you intend to stay in France you will need to apply for a Carte de Sejour as soon as possible. You will need to show evidence of medical cover in France when making an Application. EXCLUSIVE HEALTHCARE is able to help you wth this having developed a system specially for our clients.
State National Medical Care is now available to all residents of France.
This Section applies to all residents of France of all nationalities regardless of whether you are a national of a member state in the European Union or not.
On 1st January 2000 an event of great significance occurred in France. "Couverture Maladie Universelle" [CMU] came into existance.
The enacting Law, No 99-641 of 27th July 1999, provides that all residents of Mainland France and her overseas departments will have the right to State Healthcare [French NHS] at a relatively low cost.
This has introduced an important new consideration in making a decision to live in France.
The public healthcare service does not impose any age limit and does not require any medical test. There are no medical questions and anyone will be accepted regardless of their physical condition. Treatment in the best private establishments is freely available at the patients choice. The State settles its share of hospital bills directly and reimbursement of cash payments for such items as routine visits to the doctor are automatic and made within a few days.
Entitlement to State Healthcare.
The principle qualification is residence for not less than three months. You are expected to satisfy the legal requirements of residence (ie.Carte de Sejour). We publish detailed papers on the process you need to follow after arrival in France and these are available to you on application.
We also assist to prepare you before you leave the US and on your arrival in France.
YOU SHOULD NOTE THAT IF YOU ARE RESIDENT IN FRANCE YOU ARE OBLIGED BY LAW [99-641 & 95-116] TO APPLY FOR AFFILIATION TO THE STATE HEALTH CARE SYSTEM. THERE ARE SEVERE PENALTIES FOR NOT DOING SO AND THE COVER PROVIDED BY THE STATE, MAY NOT BE REPLACED BY PRIVATE HEALTH INSURANCE POLICIES.
HOWEVER POLICIES THAT ARE COMPLEMENTARY TO THE STATE SYSTEM ARE LEGAL AND NEARLY ALL RESIDENTS INCLUDING FRENCH PEOPLE HAVE THEM. THEY "TOP-UP" THE STATE'S GUARANTEES AND ARE RELATIVELY INEXPENSIVE.
A good basic top-up policy for a single person in his 50s would cost €24.00/ month and €41.00/ month for an extended top-up Policy. The French national system combined with the the basic top-up policy provides more than adequate coverage and with the extended top-up policy the most expensive private insurance policy available could not match the level of service and care this combination provides.
On applying for CMU you will need to provide some evidence of your income. Normally this will be based on your French Tax Declaration. However, if you have just arrived in France you will not be making such a declaration until March of the following year for the current year. In such a case evidence from your home country will be accepted.
Useful Addresses
We conclude with some useful addresses and the sincere hope that you will find this paper useful.
Exclusive Healthcare SA
ENGLISH DESK
83600 BAGNOLS -EN-FORET
FRANCE
Tel: 04-94-40-31-45 or 04-94-40-66-70
Fax: 04-94-40-31-97
E-mail exclusivehealthcare@wanadoo.fr
If you need help or advice at any time please do not hesitate to contact us either by'phone or e-mail. We will gladly assist you whether you are insured with us or not. Our Help Service for Expatriates is free and without obligation.
Issued by
EXCLUSIVE HEALTHCARE SA
January 2004
Appendix 1
French Consulates General in America
Washington. D.C.
French Embassy, Consular Services
4101 Reservoir Road NW - Washington DC 20007
Tel: (202)9446195
Fax: (202)9446148
Website for the Embassy: http://www.ambafrance-us.org
Website for the Consular Section: www.consulfrance-washington.org
District of Columbia, Delaware, Maryland, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Virginia & West Virginia
Atlanta
French Consulate General
Prominence in Buckhead - Suite 1840 - 3475 Piedmont Road, NE - Atlanta, GA 30305
Tel: (404) 495 1660
Fax: (404)495 1661
Website: www.consulfrance-atlanta.org
Alabama, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia & Tennessee
Boston
French Consulate General
Park Square Building, Suite 750, 31 Saint James Avenue, Boston, MA 02116
Tel: (617)5427374
Fax: (617)5428054
Website: consulfrance-boston.org
Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Rhode Island & Vermont
Chicage
French Consulate General
737 North Michigan Avenue - Olympia Center - Suite 2020 - Chicago, IL 60611
Tel: (312) 787 53 59/61
Fax: (312)6644196
Website: www.consulfrance-chicago.org
Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, North Dakota, South Dakota, Nebraska & Wisconsin
Houston
French Consulate General
777 Post Oak Boulevard - Suite 600 - Houston, TX 77056
Tel: (713)5722799
Fax: (713)5722911
Website: www.consulfrance-houston.org
Arkansas, Oklahoma & Texas
New Orleans
French Consulate General
1340 Poydras Street - Suite 1710 - New Orleans, LA 70112
Tel: (504) 523 5772 through 74
Fax: (504) 523 5725
Website: www.consulfrance-nouvelleorleans.org
Louisiana
Los Angeles
French Consulate General
10990 Wilshire Boulevard - Suite 300 - Los Angeles, CA 90024
Tel: (310) 235 3200 / 01
Fax: (310)3120704
Website: www.consulfrance-losangeles.org
Arizona, Colorado, New Mexico.California counties of Imperial/Tnyo/Kern/Kings/Los Angeles/Mono/Orange/Riverside/San Bernardino/San Diego/San Luis Obispo/Santa Barbara & Ventura. Nevada counties of Clark/Esmeralda/Lincoln/Mineral/Nye
Miami
French Consulate General
1 Biscayne Tower - Suite 1710 - 2 South Biscayne Boulevard - Miami, FL 33131
Tel: (305)3729798/99
Fax: (305) 372 9549
Website: www.consulfrance-miami.org
Florida, Puerto Rico, Virgin Islands
New-York
French Consulate General
934 Fifth Avenue - New York, NY 10021
Tel: (212) 606 3600 /88 /69
Fax: (212)6063620
Website: www.consulfrance-newyork.org
Connecticut, New Jersey & New York
San Francisco
French Consulate General
540 Bush Street - San Francisco CA 94108
Tel: (415)3974330 (415)3622948
Fax: (415)4338357
Website: www.consulfrance-sanfrancisco.org
Alaska, California & Nevada (except LA consular district), Idaho, Montana, Oregon, Utah, Washington & Wyoming, Hawaii & the Pacifïc Islands under the jurisdiction of the United States
Other French consular Offices in the United States:
France also maintains a consular agent or an honorary consul in many cities in the United States. Their addresses can be obtained from the appropriate French Consulate. They can perform some consular services but do not issue visas.
Other useful sources of information
French Government web site.
www.diplomatie.fr
This is a very large site that may be viewed in a number of languages including English. It is interactive and contains information about the country and the legal requirements to visit France or to become resident.
"Blue Book: Guide for US Citizens Residing in France. You can download all of the Blue Book via web site www.amb-usa.fr/consul. This is a consular site of the US Embassy in Paris.If you do not find the information you need, send an e-mail to: citizeninfo@state.gov.
APPENDIX 2
Medical Insurance for the Long Term Visa for Arrival in France for a Residence Permit for Cover Until You are Registered Into the French NHS
A fast track low cost solution
The system is based on the Gateway Plans. These are low cost castrophe Policies designed for short term cover up to one year. Higher deductables are available to reduce cost still further. There are 6 simple steps:
1- Send us a completed Application Form requesting monthly terms with a Credit Card Authorisation that you will find in the Application Form.
2- We will debit six monthly instalments and issue you with An Attestation of Insurance in French to submit to the Consulate with your other papers.
3- The day you arrive in France contact us and we will issue a full set of Policy Documents and send them to you.
4- We will not start applying your payment until the date of 3. above. This is perfectly legal as the Consulate requires evidence that you are covered on arrival in France, not that your are covered by the Gateway Policy in the US
5- As you will have read in "Living in France" you are obliged by French Law to register with the State Medical Insurance System. We will guide you through the process of registration and when you are registered we will cancel your Gateway Policy and give you a credit without penalty for any unexpired amount of the money you have paid to be applied to the Top-up policy you will need. Thus, in effect you will have paid by the day.
6- We will offer you a special policy that tops-up the French State Insurance by reimbursing the full difference between the amount paid by the State and the actual cost of treatment.
All the above steps can be carried out by e-mail. The Attestation in French will be sent by post as well in case you are asked for it..
On arrival in France our Help Lines will be open to advise you at all times.
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