French Healthcare Access Set to Change for British Expats Amid New Legislation

British expatriates residing in France may soon face significant changes to their access to free healthcare as French lawmakers advance measures to close a longstanding loophole. Presently, expats not engaged in employment but earning over €23,000 per year, holding private healthcare and a long-stay visa, are able to apply for the universal health card, known as the carte vitale, after three months, regardless of French tax residency. This provision has made France an appealing destination for retirees and non-working expats seeking comprehensive medical cover without ongoing private insurance costs.

Applicants for the French long-stay visitor visa must demonstrate evidence of private healthcare before entering the country; however, many choose to discontinue their private cover once they qualify for state-funded healthcare after the initial three-month period. Lawmakers recently voted in favour of legislation designed to end this practice for non-EU nationals, with the proposals now under review by the French Senate and potentially becoming law within the coming year. The government will set the required healthcare contribution at a later date.

The planned reform specifically targets non-EU pensioners, with Americans identified as a primary focus, as French pensioners living in the United States do not have reciprocal access to American public healthcare. If adopted, non-working expats would face a mandatory minimum charge for entry into the French public health system, replacing the prospect of free access previously outlined.

The draft legislation expressly exempts British pensioners who possess an S1 form, provided through a reciprocal arrangement post Brexit, which allows retirees receiving the UK state pension to have their healthcare funded by the British government. British nationals who have retired before reaching the state pension age of 66, and those relying exclusively on private pensions or savings, remain subject to the proposed charges and would not benefit from the exemption.

The long-stay visitor visa, or VLS TS, permits non-EU citizens to remain in France for more than 90 days, typically up to a year, on the condition they support themselves and do not seek work. After the expiration of this visa, individuals are required to apply for appropriate residency permits. Recent statistics show ongoing British interest, with over 8,400 first-time residency permit applications in 2024 alone, in contrast to 13,500 submitted by Americans.

François Gernigon, the member of parliament promoting these changes, emphasises the importance of sustainability for what he describes as the world’s leading healthcare system, asserting that foreign contributions, while not eliminating the social security deficit, will contribute toward stabilising the public finances. British expats entitled to NHS cover via the S1 scheme are poised to retain access without additional charges, but those outside this scope must prepare for new financial obligations related to healthcare access in France.