health care

[birdie]

I know this has possible been aswered before but have just joined the forum so perhaps someone would not mind answeing this question, a yes or no would do.

As a retired couple moving to france do we or do we not get FREE health care.

[Bevdeforges]

Hi, and welcome to the forum.

Have you been watching Sicko? <g> Actually, there is very little "free" health care in France. To be covered under the French national plan, you need to have contributed to the French social security system during your working years. If you haven't worked in France, then you have to show proof of your own private health insurance when you register with the local mairie (town hall) - and you have to do that within three months of moving to France.

France has a reimbursement system, which means you pay for your health services, and then are reimbursed by the national and/or private insurance (it's normally a combination, even for those covered by the French system). The state system works quite smoothly, but if you're with a private insurer, you'll have to get a bill or statement from your doctor and submit that to the insurer.
Cheers,
Bev

[Stravinsky]

I'll never understand it. I thought under EU law each country has to provide free health care for pensioners. They certainly do in Spain

[Bevdeforges]

Let me make a minor change to what I said before. I've stumbled upon a website that certainly LOOKS authoritative enough here: CLEISS - Questions-Réponses

Now, this page is only in French, whereas several other questions they respond to have translations into English and other languages! But what they seem to be saying is that, using this form E121, you can have your home country maintain your deductions for health care coverage from your retirement payments - though you should set this up before you arrive in France. You then take the form to the French social security people and they set you up with a French social security card so that you are covered to the extent the French are. (And apparently, they bill back the NHS or whatever for any services you require in France.)

You probably want to have a "mutuelle" (top up policy) in addition to the standard French coverage. These are pretty easy to get from just about any insurer in France and usually cost less than 100€ a month per person, though this can vary, depending on how "topped up" you want to be (especially for dental and eye care).
Cheers,
Bev