Jim Murphy

French Health Care

Just a quick posting on healthcare for expats in France (for what I hope might be the last time on this issue!) I appreciate that many of the comments posted have recognised that it is sometimes more effective for the UK Government to try to discreetly persuade other Governments. Of course others have a different view - it’s a matter of judgement. I know that there is still some clarification needed about cover for a small number of people, and we are encouraging the French authorities to make sure the new rules are understood and implemented throughout France. But I would like to thank everyone at the British Embassy in Paris for all their persistence and hard work, and to FHI as well. Also my personal thanks to French Europe Minister Jean-Pierre Jouyet. With best wishes to all UK citizens in France.

Posted at 08:54 01 February 2008 by Jim Murphy  |  Comments[47]

Decision on healthcare in France

Good news. Late last night it was confirmed that the French government has now decided that all inactive EU nationals who were resident in France before 23 November 2007 will be able to access healthcare via the Couverture Maladie Universelle (CMU), both those who were registered in the CMU and those who were an E106 holder at the time.
 
I very much welcome this decision - it follows a lot of contact with the French government about the retrospective nature of their earlier proposals on the implementation of Directive 2004/38EC. I will be speaking to the French Europe Minister again today.
 
I appreciate the lobbying efforts many of you have made, which helped to highlight the significance of this issue for the European expatriate community - an issue which has understandably caused considerable anxiety for many of you. I know that those people directly affected by these changes have been seeking greater reassurance before now. The British Embassy in Paris has been passing on the most up-to-date official information we have received from the French government, but of course they couldn't pre-empt the outcome of our continuing discussions with the French authorities.
 
You can see the reply from French Health Minister Mme Bachelot to our Ambassador in Paris here.

For further sources of information, please contact the following: (also listed on the British Paris Embassy's website www.ambgb.com)
 
CNAM - 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
www.cleiss.fr

Posted at 10:44 24 January 2008 by Jim Murphy  |  Comments[23]

Healthcare in France - E106 holders

Thank you to everyone who has commented about the issue of expired E106 forms. I can assure you that we are pursuing this point with the French Health Ministry, and requested before Christmas a fuller explanation of the arrangements for E106 holders. Once again we have impressed on the Health Ministry the urgency of the situation.

Our officials remain in close contact with the French authorities, who have promised more details in the next week. We have been assured that people whose E106 forms have expired will continue to have the safeguard of essential immediate healthcare provision, either through the Couverture Maladie Universelle or the Aide Médicale d'Etat.

The extra information from the French Health Ministry on the new arrangements for E106 holders should help resolve issues with local health agencies in France, whom I understand are not consistently applying the recent instructions received from the Health Ministry. The British Embassy in Paris will publish any further information we receive on its website as soon as it becomes available.

Posted at 15:51 11 January 2008 by Jim Murphy  |  Comments[64]