Medical
Simply put, the regulations regarding EU citizens wishing to take up residency in France changed in 2007.
It stated that non-workers, students or job seekers can benefit from the Couverture Maladie Universelle (CMU), as long as their stay in France is permanent. However, their right to reside, which no longer depends on obtaining a residence card, rests on two conditions: namely, having sufficient financial means and a comprehensive sickness insurance.
However, EU nationals who have been granted access to the CMU de Base up to 23rd November 2007 will continue to benefit.
For those persons not totalling five years of legally ‘regular and uninterrupted residence’, access to the CMU can only be granted when, once they have acquired a right to reside, these persons are subject to an ‘accident of life’ leading them to lose their financial resources or their health insurance.
The question the arises what are the new conditions concerning the right to stay defined by the European directive for those who are ‘inactive’ EU nationals, are not in possession of a valid “E” form, students or job-seekers?
In this context, an “inactive” person is described as a person who is not engaged in a professional activity and thus not affiliated to health cover in a professional capacity. Likewise, a job seeker is anyone entering France to search for employment.
Under Directive 2004/38, “inactive” EU nationals can reside in a Member State other than their State of origin provided two criteria are met:
- The possession of a comprehensive health cover
- Adequate financial resources in order not become an unreasonable burden on the finances of the receiving State.
In other words, an inactive EU national coming reside in France cannot rely on a right of residence if they do not benefit from medical cover prior to their arrival.
Should these two conditions not be fulfilled or are no longer met, the individual thereby no longer enjoys the right to stay and his stay is no longer regular. If the person becomes ill and has lived in France for less than 3 months, the person can benefit from the “emergency care” arrangement. If the person has been in France for more than three months, the person is eligible for Aide Médicale de l’Etat (AME), as long as its conditions are met, particularly with regards to financial resources.
In conclusion, if an EU citizen is looking to take up residency in France, and is deemed “inactive”, they will be required to take out full private medical insurance, in order to satisfy one of the criteria of residency mentioned above, until such time as they are either in a position to acquire an appropriate “E” form, for example, an E121, or they are assessed as having had five years legal and uninterrupted residency.
We can offer a fully compliant and affordable full private medical insurance plan, specifically designed to meet the needs of those “inactive” EU citizens who are in such a position.