Dear All

Access to healthcare for inactive EU nationals in France

We are pleased to announce that the French government has acted upon representations made by the Embassy and the British expatriate community and has decided to allow all inactive EU nationals who were resident in France before 23 November 2007 to access healthcare via the CMU, regardless of whether they were registered in the CMU or an E106 holder at that time.

The new rules requiring inactive EU nationals from other countries living in France after 23 November 2007 to seek private cover still apply, but will now not retrospectively affect people already resident in France before that date.

This information is based on what we have been told by the French authorities. As some individual experiences have shown so far, the new decision will understandably take time to be fully implemented nationwide, but in the meantime we suggest people seek further information and advice on individual cases by consulting one or more of the following:

French Social Security website:

http://www.securite-sociale.fr/comprendre/europe/europe/cmu_inactifs.htm

CNAM - The French Health Service (English language service): +33 8 20 90 42 12

CLEISS - (France's helpdesk for international mobility and social security):
11 rue de la tour des Dames
75436 Paris cedex 09
Tel: +33 1 45 26 33 41

www.cleiss.fr

DWP Overseas Medical Benefits helpline International Pension Centre
Room Tc001
Tyneview Park
Whitley Road
Newcastle upon Tyne
NE98 1BA
Tel: +44 (0) 191 218 1999 (Monday to Friday 8am - 5pm)

www.dh.gov.uk/travellers

or for press enquiries: Department of Health Press Office: +(44) 207 210 5221
You will find the reply from French Health Minister Mme Roselyne Bachelot to representation made by HMA, British Embassy France attached at the bottom of this email.

Kind Regards

Sara Gill

Public Enquiries Manager
Press and Communications
British Embassy
35 rue du Faubourg Saint-Honoré
75008 Paris
Tel: +33 (0)1 44 51 32 81
Fax:+33 (0)1 44 51 32 34