(A) You are retired and you move to France

All that you have to do is ask for an application at your nearest C.P.A.M. (Caisse Primaire d'Assurance Maladie). - The "Sécurité Sociale" then allocates you with a number that starts with a "1" if you are a man or by a "2" if you are a women.

(B) You move to France to work

B1 You are salaried

: you have nothing to do. Your employer will take care of getting you into the Sécurité Sociale system. You also have incapacity benefits and retirement.

B2 You are independent

: called T.N.S. in France (Travailleur Non Salarié). It is up to you to apply to an organisation reserved for the T.N.S.(M.T.N.S. - R.A.M. - etc.).

(C) You move to France, you are not retired and do not work

Since the 01 January 2000, the French law will provide all persons resident in France for more than tree months. with the Sécurité Sociale under a regime called the C.M.U. ( Couverture Medicale Universelle). Initially created for the people with little and no income, the C.M.U. make a difference of the two.

C1 No income or an income not exceeding 10 116 € a year for a couple

- C.M.U. = FREE, (obligatory regime).
- C.M.U. Top-up = FREE.
This means that all expenses are reimbursed up to 100% of the "tarif de convention".

C2 Income over 10 116 € a year for a couple

In this case, you are eligible for an abatement of the same amount (10 116 €) but you pay 8% of whatever you earn over that set amount. The excess 8% is paid to the U.R.S.S.A.F. (Union de Recouvrement de la Sécurité Sociale et des Allocations Familiales).

How to work out how much to pay!

You earn 15 000 € per year.
You take off 10 116 € of the C.M.U. allowance.
You are left with 4 884 € over the C.M.U. allowance.
8% of this amount is paid to the U.R.S.S.A.F.

To benefit from the Sécurité Sociale it will cost you 390,72 € per year.

(15000 - 10116) X 8 / 100 = 390,72

(D) You are only in France for a temporary period

In this case you should have either an E106 or a EHI card issued by the UK SS. form normal social security office. As long as you are in France and that your health condition needs treatment, you will receive the same prestations as a French resident and will be reimbursed on the bases of the French Sécurité Sociale (only partially).