Competence & Talents Application

[RayRay]

Originally Posted by audreyc

Likely they will make you show proof of health insurance if you are approved.

My husband and I weren't asked for proof of health insurance at our appointment either. When they called to tell us our passports were ready, they told us we could pick them up just as soon as we had given them our proof of insurance.

Unfortunately, you don't get a Carte Vitale just by having the visa. As far as I can tell you have to prove that you paid into the system the previous tax year. They also wanted to see proof of future work contracts. (We haven't sent in our application yet, but these are the things that the woman we spoke to told us we had to have to be approved--she even scrutinized them.) We're actually going back to the office on Thursday to ensure we have everything complete for the application.

Thank you for your reply - it fills in the missing piece.

I had assumed that there was a reason one needed a year's healthcare insurance, but never knew what it was. With what you've said about having to have contributed for the prior year, it all fits.

Everything in France is paid in arrears, including our SOGEDO and Electric bills. They're all calcuated on what we paid vs what we used the previous year!

Best of luck with your application and, thanks, again!

Ray

[wagnersabroad]

Great--thanks! The Chicago Consulate mails our passports back to us, so who knows how it will be handled. It may be that the health insurance depends on what kind of applicant you are, since you could be an independent businessperson, an employee, an independent artisan or an investor.

Which Consulate did you go through?

[audreyc]

Originally Posted by wagnersabroad

Great--thanks! The Chicago Consulate mails our passports back to us, so who knows how it will be handled. It may be that the health insurance depends on what kind of applicant you are, since you could be an independent businessperson, an employee, an independent artisan or an investor.

Which Consulate did you go through?

We went through the Houston consulate. My husband is a freelance orchestra conductor, although I got the feeling they would require the insurance for anyone. Who knows, though. We actually sent our proof of insurance via email. We just scanned our policy proving cover in France and that was sufficient for them to release our passports. I'm not sure if they called the insurance company or not.

Perhaps some other previously approved C et T applicants can chime in here as to whether they needed proof of insurance.

[RayRay]

Originally Posted by audreyc

We went through the Houston consulate. My husband is a freelance orchestra conductor, although I got the feeling they would require the insurance for anyone. Who knows, though. We actually sent our proof of insurance via email. We just scanned our policy proving cover in France and that was sufficient for them to release our passports. I'm not sure if they called the insurance company or not.

Perhaps some other previously approved C et T applicants can chime in here as to whether they needed proof of insurance.

Who did you use for insurance coverage?

Ray

[audreyc]

Originally Posted by RayRay

Who did you use for insurance coverage?

Ray

We have a policy with BlueCross through my husband's US employer. We're in a unique situation where he has a salaried job in the US that doesn't require him to be there more than 4 months a year. Our BlueCross policy covers certain hospitals and doctors in France with our same US deductible applying. It would be expensive for us if something were to go wrong, but we don't anticipate needing it for coverage here much longer (although we'll continue to have it since we still need it in the US.)

As soon as we get the Carte Vitale taken care of and actually received (I'm hoping my 6 month estimation isn't overly optimistic) we'll shop around for a mutuelle.

Sorry--probably not very helpful to many other peoples' situations.

[RayRay]

Originally Posted by audreyc

We have a policy with BlueCross through my husband's US employer. We're in a unique situation where he has a salaried job in the US that doesn't require him to be there more than 4 months a year. Our BlueCross policy covers certain hospitals and doctors in France with our same US deductible applying. It would be expensive for us if something were to go wrong, but we don't anticipate needing it for coverage here much longer (although we'll continue to have it since we still need it in the US.)

As soon as we get the Carte Vitale taken care of and actually received (I'm hoping my 6 month estimation isn't overly optimistic) we'll shop around for a mutuelle.

Sorry--probably not very helpful to many other peoples' situations.

Actually, it is VERY helpful. It never occurred to me that our US healthcare coverage might extend to France. I'll have to find out!

And your other replies about getting one's Carte Vitale are really useful.

Thanks, again.

Ray

[RayRay]

Originally Posted by audreyc

We have a policy with BlueCross through my husband's US employer.

Sorry--probably not very helpful to many other peoples' situations.

I just checked out coverage, which is via Blue Cross & Blue Shield of TX. I searched for quite a while hoping to find something about foreign insurance coverage, but in the end, finding it was simple. I simply clicked on "Find a Doctor" and then on the link to "Find Providers Outside the US". There is was - FRANCE!!!

Thank you so much for this. The simple assumption that our US heathcare coverage wouldn't count in France would've kept me from even checking.

Ray

[audreyc]

Originally Posted by RayRay

I just checked out coverage, which is via Blue Cross & Blue Shield of TX. I searched for quite a while hoping to find something about foreign insurance coverage, but in the end, finding it was simple. I simply clicked on "Find a Doctor" and then on the link to "Find Providers Outside the US". There is was - FRANCE!!!

Thank you so much for this. The simple assumption that our US heathcare coverage wouldn't count in France would've kept me from even checking.

Ray

That's fantastic! That may be the very same provider we have (since we were based in Texas.) What we did was print out the details of what they cover internationally and then printed out the long list of doctors in our city (Nice) who accept BlueCross insurance. If you PM me your email address I'll show you exactly what I sent. (Just if you're interested!)

[Bevdeforges]

The health cover issue can depend on the nature of your C et T visa project. It specifically states in a few different sources that your project "may" include employment in France - which would mean that you were eligible for the French health care system. (Usually the "waiting period" is no more than about 3 months.)

Other C et T projects involve setting up an AE or other sort of business entity, which would also include full cotisation coverage (i.e. health and retirement).

But where there is a set-up period or pre-incorporation period, they can certainly come back and insist that you have health coverage at least for the period where you are in the process of establishing your particular project or business.
Cheers,
Bev

[wagnersabroad]

Originally Posted by audreyc

Likely they will make you show proof of health insurance if you are approved.

My husband and I weren't asked for proof of health insurance at our appointment either. When they called to tell us our passports were ready, they told us we could pick them up just as soon as we had given them our proof of insurance.

Unfortunately, you don't get a Carte Vitale just by having the visa. As far as I can tell you have to prove that you paid into the system the previous tax year. They also wanted to see proof of future work contracts. (We haven't sent in our application yet, but these are the things that the woman we spoke to told us we had to have to be approved--she even scrutinized them.) We're actually going back to the office on Thursday to ensure we have everything complete for the application.

Well, they have just asked for proof of medical coverage, so let's hope that we are almost there!!