I am applying for a 12 moth visa. I am retired and relocating to France. I have an S1 form. AI states this is sufficient for my application but friends are telling me I need private health cover. I took this out but had to do so before my 71st birthday for the package I wanted. It was not available after 71. This means I will not be covered for a full 12 months as my visa application will be at least a month after the start of my cover which is renewable annually. Any advice please? Is the S1 from sufficient fro Vias application?
In France, once you are registered with CPAM (you would need to register your S1 with them: Healthcare for UK nationals living in France - GOV.UK), the majority of the cost of healthcare is paid for by the State, but the remaining ~30% needs to be paid by you. Most people have a mutuelle for that ~30%.
Until you are “in the system”, which might take a few months, you are responsible for the total payment. While the Consular people dealing with your visa application will expect you to be fully covered for the whole year, an S1 covers you for the ~70% the State would pay towards your healthcare costs, and will suffice for your visa application (as @GraemeL says). You’ll still be responsible for the remaining 30%.
However … at the top of every page on SF, you will see the word INSURANCE. SF has a link to @fabien Fab Insurance, who will arrange medical and other insurance if you ask. I find them very helpful, and they will certainly have suggestions for you.
Its best to use the French Visa wizard here to be sure of the requirements.
Here is the relevant extract >>>
For stays in France up to 6 months: UK-insured reciprocal healthcare entitlement documents (valid EHIC / GHIC). For stays over 6 months: Private Health insurance covering the entire validity of the visa (up to 1 year), except for retirees receiving a British retirement pension who may provide the S1 Form delivered by the NHS.
You don’t need it for the visa but it’s worth thinking about how you will fund any significant health events while you’re waiting to join CPAM which can take many months. As I understand it, you will be refunded back to your application date but that still leaves a large risk window for your cash flow.
I hope no-one is fooled into thinking the S1 will cover Health Expenses in France… 'cos it will only give the same cover as that of any French person.. ie only a certain percentage of actual costs will be covered, leaving (in many instances) a nasty-surprise Bill for the Patient to pay!
Brit Govt advises all travellers to take out Travel Insurance… and with good reason!
and, even if/when one gets entry to the French Health System… there is still that nasty-surprise Bill…
As John says, the S1 is fine for the visa, but you need to have enough savings to cover any major costs until everything is registered and you have your attestation des droits (the actual card doesn’t matter). You can then claim back to date of S1.
The catch 22 is that you can’t take out a mutuelle ( the standard top-up insurance than many opt for) until you have at least a temporary Social Security number, but I think you need to check very carefully whether you can take out travel insurance as you will not be travelling but here as a resident with an address here in France. (And be very careful about fudging this and using a UK address you are not living at. As you know insurance companies seek any excuse not to pay).
I have already mentioned a Brit friend in France, found out too late that her partner had not organised Health Insurance. No need, just wave the EHIC.. huh!
Nasty fall… broke heaven knows what.
Hospital, operations, aftercare in some hospital wing/whatever …
very quickly the bills added up to an astronomical amount… then they were told of the extra care she would need for quite some time… and possibly more operations… aaargh. they paid out several thousands of euros with the knowledge that more bills would be on the way …
In desperation, the family back in UK gathered the ÂŁ4000 to have a private ambulance arrive from UK to take said friend back there, where her Health Care was covered in full.
This was quite a few years ago… I doubt that costs have remained static.
I think that’s a different risk as, often, you can take out a mutuelle if you see something on the horizon. That’s more difficult with private health insurance.
Thank you all for your responses. I checked the French Visa Wizard and it clearly states “ for stays > 6 months: Private Health insurance covering the entire validity of the visa (up to 1 year), except for retirees receiving a British retirement pension who may provide the S1 Form delivered by the NHS.” So I am reading that as meeting the visa health requirements with an S1. I have just taken out a good health cover package which I had to do before my 71st birthday in a week’s time. I would not have been eligible for that package after 71. So I have cover for when I am out there. I was just worried about it expiring on 13the June 2027 when my Visa application will run form July 26 to July 27. Thanks everyone for your help. I am sure I will have lots more questions over the coming moths/years as a newbie to France!
I’m glad you timed things just right and, once in France, you can consider what you will need to do re Health Cover nearer the expiry of your HCoverPackage.
So long as one is aware of possible pitfalls… things can be organised to best advantage.. it can be ghastly being unaware and then getting caught out.
