When we hear about important matters which may be of concern, we will post them on this page.

Please keep us informed and contact us about anything you think could be of interest.

CANCER SUPPORT FRANCE- CREUSE BRANCH

A successful presentation by Cancer Support France was held on Friday 11/01/08 in St Etienne de Fursac, department 23, and it was decided to set up a branch of CSF in the Creuse.

Cancer Support France provide an information and listening service for Anglophones affected by cancer and currently has branches covering five departments in France with three more in the pipeline.

They offer support through visits at home and in hospital .Guide clients and their carers to other sources of advice, help and provide access to written information about cancer and its treatment. All active listening volunteers receive specialist training and French speaking volunteers can help to communication with Doctors and hospital staff.

Cancer Support France is a volunteer association and relies heavily on donations and fund raising support. The new branch in the Creuse,[ hopefully based in Gueret] is looking for a suitable venue for meetings and for more volunteers through out the Creuse,  to help with administration, fund raising or one to one support.  If you can help in anyway, no matter how small, and are interested in being involved please contact

Helen French, 0555 63 35 73 email; alnellfrench@gmail.com.

                                  OR

Christine Wakefield 0555 62 29 68 email;pete.wakefield@orange.fr

The next meeting will be on the 25^th February at 2pm.

Please contact us for details of the venue.

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 CHANGES TO THE HEALTHCARE SYSTEM

SUMMARY OF THE LATEST INFORMATION 

Background

There has been a lot of confusion recently concerning health insurance for British people living in France. It had been announced that as from 1 October 2007, British expats would no longer be allowed to pay contributions to get treatment through the French healthcare system via the Couverture Medicale Universelle (CMU). But a recent announcement on 14 December 2007 by the British Embassy in Paris has helped to clarify the situation.

 Those NOT AFFECTED by any changes are still the same:

• Retired people in receipt of state pension from the UK.  They will retain their health insurance in France via form E121.
• New arrivals in France in possession of form E106 are also unaffected in the short term, and remain entitled to health insurance for their first two years in France.
• Those who are employed or self-employed
• Those who are living with or married to a person in possession of a E121 or E106
• Those living with or married to a French person

The potential changes therefore concern those people who have retired to France, are not working, but are not yet old enough to receive a UK pension.

The following information is taken from www.thisfrenchlife.com

British Embassy update on health changes (14 December 2007)

THE British Embassy in Paris has published details of the understanding it has about how the changes to registration in the French health system will impact upon people.    Its full statement reads:

French government's new decision on access to the French healthcare system for inactive citizens from other EU countries (14/12/07)

Following representations made to the French government, we can confirm that the French Health Ministry has modified its decision regarding access to the French healthcare system for inactive citizens from other EU countries already residing in France.

According to the French Health Ministry's official revised statement and Q&A factsheet the position is:

• * Inactive EU citizens already living in France and already registered and accessing healthcare via the CMU before 23 November 2007 will now be allowed to continue to do so.
  
  * After 5 years of "regular, uninterrupted residence" in France, an EU citizen qualifies as a permanent French resident and will therefore have access to healthcare via the CMU.

• * The position remains that all inactive EU citizens under retirement age living in France now or in future who are not entitled to healthcare reimbursement (through the E106 or E109 forms) or to access to the French health system will be required to have their own personal health insurance until they reach UK state pension age (and therefore qualify for entitlement to the E121 form), or until they qualify as a French resident (after 5 years of "regular, uninterrupted residence").

• * We have ensured that the French authorities are fully aware of the specific circumstances of E106 holders already resident in France who do not have existing access to CMU and who may not be able to secure private health insurance for various reasons when their E106 expires. Following discussions to highlight the need for urgent clarification in cases where the E106 is due to expire imminently, we have been told that people will have the safeguard of essential immediate healthcare provision. We are expecting a response in the next few days from the Health Ministry to give further detail for people in these circumstances.

• * As previously, people already over retirement age who are holders of an E121 which is registered with the French authorities will remain unaffected.

This information is based on what we have been told by the French authorities. We suggest people seek further information and advice on individual cases from one or more of the following:

The French Social Security website.

CPAM - 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

 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

 Comment from HMA British Embassy, Paris: "We welcome and appreciate the French government's decision, following our representations, to allow inactive EU citizens living in France who already have access to healthcare via the CMU to continue to do so. This is good news which will bring relief to many British people living in France. However, we are aware that there are also British expatriates in France who are holders of E106 forms and therefore not in the CMU system.

The Embassy has been in intensive discussions with the French Health Ministry about their situation. We have been told that this group will have the safeguard of essential immediate healthcare provision, and we hope that this information will be confirmed in the next few days."

French health changes could still bite back

CHANGES to the French health system announced on Friday (December 14) will see many people now remain in the system, although there are still some facing uncertain times. The heath authorities have said that people who are considered "inactive" and currently registered within the CMU will continue to receive cover, but lobby group French Health Issues has warned that an estimated 3,000 people whose E106 cover is due to expire in January may yet face difficulties.

Deborah Dudley, of French Health Issues, said: "It is still not clear how those who rely on regular medication and treatment, such as people suffering from diabetes, hypertension, asthma and the like, will be treated under the new rules; nor, those who are about to have surgery and major operations for life-threatening conditions.

"They face an uncertain future until this is fully resolved. There appears to be some hope for them, but the details are still vague and with around just ten working days to go before their E106s expire, this is still not good enough.

"The European legislation is also clear in that member states must publicise any changes to laws which could affect Union members, in good time, and through the proper channels. Clearly, an announcement made on December 14, which begins to take effect on January 6, contravenes this law, if nothing else.

"We also continue to contest the validity of the way in which the French authorities interpreted the legislation in the first place. The rule being used to introduce these changes, only specifies the necessity for 'comprehensive sickness insurance'. We still believe that it is possible to comply with this by contributing to the French state system."

A British Embassy update on health changes late last week was the explanation that many people had been waiting for since notice was given by the French authorities earlier this year that it intended to make inactive members of the EU living in France fund their own health cover.

At first it looked like thousands of people who were below retirement age, but not working, would have to take up private cover, with many wondering how they would be able to afford insurance plans or gain cover for pre-existing conditions.

But as pressure grew from expats, who gained the support of politicians from France, the UK and Europe, it became apparent that the Health Ministry was prepared to look again at the rules, culminating in the recent announcement and which can be broadly summarised as:

• All those currently affiliated to the CMU will be allowed to continue to contribute to, and benefit from it.

• All those who have lived legally in France for five years will be allowed to join the CMU, and will enjoy all the same benefits as their French counterparts in the same position.

• Those who have chronic or pre-existing conditions which prevent them from obtaining private health insurance, may appeal for entry into the CMU.

The British Embassy is to continue discussions with the health authorities to work on a solution for holders of an E106 set to end soon, and Deborah Dudley says their own work is not over yet either.

 "We are committed to continuing our fight, until there is justice, in healthcare terms, for all citizens throughout the union, which was surely the spirit of the legislation which is now being used in France to such negative effect," she said.

Carte Vitale

If you receive a letter from CPAM at Guéret headed ‘Rénouvellement des droits à la CMU de base à la CMU compleméntaire’, it is important that you go the CPAM offices immediately to get your Carte Vitale updated.

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CREUS’AC

Did you know about this service for foreigners wanting to set up a business in the Creuse?  It can help people wanting to start or those already in business with advice and information about French administration, legal matters and so on. This is a free service and there are special ‘drop in’ sessions organised, initially, until the end of December in Guéret, Bourganeuf, la Souterraine and Aubusson.

For more information contact:

Marcel DENIS, Mission Europe, 14 Avenue Pierre Leroux (in front of the railway station)

BP 17 23001 Gueret.   05.44.30.23.39   mdenis@cg23.fr