France is renowned for its high quality healthcare system, underpinned by mandatory contributions from employed individuals. This system operates on a co-payment basis, with the majority of medical expenses being reimbursed. For retirees from the EU, EEA, UK or Switzerland, accessing state healthcare services is facilitated through an S1 social security form. If you are from outside of the EU, securing private health insurance is advised. Read on to discover the intricacies of healthcare for retired expats living in France.Â
Table of contents
Joining the French healthcare system
The French healthcare system, ‘L’assurance Maladie’, is accessible to all residents. However, it’s important to note that this service isn’t entirely free. It’s funded by a combination of state funds and patient contributions. All French residents. including retirees, are required to have health insurance. The minimum requirement is to be registered with the state health insurance, Protection Maladie Universelle, also known as ‘PUMA‘.Â
Healthcare eligibility for retired expats
Retired expats are indeed eligible to register with L’Assurance Maladie. However, the process has a slight variation. If your move to France is work or study-related, you can complete the registration upon arrival and acquire a social security number. Conversely, if you’re relocating as an ‘inactive’ resident, such as a retiree, a mandatory waiting period of three months applies before you can register for the French health system and obtain your essential Carte Vitale, also known as the French health insurance card. This waiting period highlights the critical need for ample private health insurance coverage upon your initial arrival.
Applying for your Carte Vitale as a retiree
Registering for French healthcare as a retiree involves as a retiree involves filling out a ‘demande d’ouverture des droits’ form, available here. This form is then submitted to your local Caisse Primaire d’Assurance Maladie (CPAM) to initiate the process.
> You might be interested in this article: Guide to the Carte Vitale for expats
Funding your healthcare
For retirees, there are typically two options for funding healthcare:Â
- Paying French social security contributions on your pension income
- Having your healthcare covered by an S1 form, signifying that your health insurance throughout retirement is covered by the social security system of another country. This option is only available for retirees from another EU or EEA country, or the UK.Â
Enhance your coverage with a Mutuelle
While France’s healthcare system provides comprehensive coverage for essential and urgent treatments, there are instances where the states’s reimbursement might not cover the entirety of your medical expenses. This is where a ‘Mutuelle’ comes into play, offering additional financial protection and peace of mind.Â
These state healthcare system in France typically covers a percentage of costs associated with doctors’ visits, hospitalisations, specialist consultations, and various prescriptions and treatments. This coverage usually hovers around 70%, leaving the remaining 30% as the patient’s responsibility.Â
A Mutuelle, also known as complementary health insurance,. functions as a supplementary policy to your state social security contributions. It effectively fills the gap left by the state’s coverage, ensuring that a higher proportion of your medical expenses are reimbursed.Â
Comprehensive protection
A Mutuelle offers comprehensive coverage, encompassing various aspects of healthcare. This includes but is not limited to:
- Doctor’s visits: Covering consultations and visits to general practitioners or specialists.Â
- Hospitalisations: Providing for inpatient care, including surgery and recovery.Â
- Prescription medicines: Offsetting the cost of essential medications.Â
- Dental and optical care: Supporting routine check-ups, corrective lenses, and dental procedures.Â
Private health insurance for Visa application
To ensure that healthcare for retired expats meets the necessary standards, residing in France for a minimum of three months is imperative. This delay, a common feature in long-stay visa applications, underscores the need for substantial private health insurance coverage. This insurance must offer a minimum coverage of 30,000 € and remain valid throughout the entire Schengen zone.
> You might be interested in this article: Health insurance in France as an expat
Healthcare in France for British pensioners
Accessing state healthcare
Once you’ve been residing in France for three months or more, you’re eligible to apply for coverage under the state healthcare system. However, as a retiree, you’re likely not making social security contributions through employment. This means you might need to contribute to the PUMa system on your own. But don’t worry, there’s an alternative option we’ll explore shortly, which could potentially grant you free healthcare in France.Â
To register for state healthcare in France, follow these steps:
- Apply for PUMa at your local CPAM office
- Obtain a temporary social security number, which may take up to three months
- You should then receive an ‘attestation de droits à l’assurance maladie’, confirming your entitlement to French state healthcare.
- Apply for your ‘carte vitale’, your official French state healthcare card. Please note that this process might take up to 6 months. In the meantime, you can use your social security number to access healthcare.Â
- Always carry your ‘carte vitale’ to doctor appointments, pharmacy visits and other medical treatments.Â
S1 form: Free healthcare for British pensioners
If you are receiving a UK state pension and have become a resident in France, you could qualify for state healthcare funded by the UK government. This means some health services in France might be completely free or available at a low cost.Â
For detailed information, consult the UK government’s official website. The general application process involves completing an S1 form and registering it at your local CPAM office in France.Â
Useful resources
CPAM office locator: Find the nearest Caisse Primaire d’Assurance Maladie (CPAM) office to you. This is where you’ll handle various administrative tasks related to your healthcare coverage. Click here to visit the website.Â
UK Government Healthcare Abroad: The official UK government page providing comprehensive information about accessing healthcare while living abroad, including in France. Click here to visit the website.Â
French Mutuelles Comparison: Compare different ‘Mutuelle’ options to find the one that best suits your needs and budget. Click here to visit the website.Â
