Health care for retirees in France

Caitie · #1 (**permalink**) 28th March 2008, 09:02 PM

Hello. This is my first post...
I'm British-born and my husband is South African-born. Years ago, we both took Canadian citizenship and later US citizenship. We presently live in the US but are thinking of retiring to France in the next couple of years. I once spent a year of my youth in France and can't stay away.

I understand that we would have to buy some sort of medical insurance coverage. Does anyone have any idea what this could cost and whether it would cover everything? I have some back problems and am worried about exclusions.
Also - does anyone have an idea of the relative cost of living in France compared to the US?
Thanks, in advance, for any insights you can offer.

Bevdeforges · #2 (**permalink**) 28th March 2008, 09:39 PM

As US citizens, you could get your health coverage through a US expat group. I don't know the exact costs, but I'm told the coverage through AARO (Association of Americans Resident Overseas) is very reasonable. Contact them through their website here: AARO - Association of Americans Resident Overseas (At the least, you can get an estimate for the coverage to use in comparing other expat plans.)

My experience here in France (these last 13 years) is that you can get by for considerably less in France than in the US - however the French lifestyle is "simpler" than the US. Homes are smaller, possessions are fewer - and the food is excellent! This assumes that you live outside the Paris city limits, of course. Like most big cities, Paris can be expensive.

The one caution is that, if your retirement income is coming from the US, you'll be subject to the vagaries of currency exchange - currently at all time lows. It's one of the realities of retiring "abroad."
Cheers,
Bev

Caitie · #3 (**permalink**) 1st April 2008, 05:41 PM

Thank you, Bev!

giantpanda · #4 (**permalink**) 2nd April 2008, 08:11 AM

Hi!

In all cases, it you contract a private insurance ( you will have to ) you should check with the French Health Insurance, if this has been approved.

normally they will test this.

At present since the matter is very new, nobody really knows what he individual criteria are.

The general ruling, would be that it give you the same coverage as for somebody in the French system. Now when you really go into details, that can be rather tricky.

Of course normally it is a matter for the insurance, but you may find that they have hardly done this, because there are only very few such cases.

Yours,

giantpanda