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When closing an account make sure that all cheques you've written out have been paid-in and cleared. When I returned to the UK I closed one account and kept the other open for tax/misc stuff. Only then somebody I'd written a check out to ages ago (on the now closed account) paid-it in and ... as per regs it bounced and all my French bank accounts were blocked. And it was a "Catch 22" as I could not pay money in to the closed account to cover the cheque (as the account was closed) so could not clear the block. And then I got my tax bill ... Fun and games and quite a challenge getting things unblocked.

[quote user="EuroTrash"].....After 5 years legal residence you no longer have to meet any conditions. That's the only difference the 5 years makes. I don't know what that "strictly speaking" quote is talking about, it doesn't seem to have anything to do with obtaining healthcare. I don't know if this will change post Brexit.[/quote] I got the "strictly speaking" from [url]https://www.french-property.com/news/french_health/protection_universelle_maladie/[/url] - short way down under "Legal Residency Requirements". I'd wonder how much the different departments' CPAMs vary. Certainly when I registered before they were exceptionally strict about every dot on every "i" and every cross on every "t" (so a straight forward matter of getting it "right" for them and putting everything in a folder! I guess a lot can change post-Brexit hence I'd be looking to more/register, etc. before UK leave date (which mans bringing plans forward).

[quote user="Chancer"]..... Dont worry yourself about all the other speculation which whilst it may have some foundation was never applied even before PUMA, its such a shame that you should have moved away in 2007 because of at best well meaning bad advice. Time to make up for it now![/quote] Main reason for return to UK was other commitments (family members getting old needing help ...). But the health cover was a concern particularly as back in the UK at least some areas were still using the "6 month" delay before non-emergency NHS secondary healthcare!

[quote user="EuroTrash"]If you meet the criteria for legal residence in France as an inactif you can apply for state healthcare (PUMA) after three months' residence http://www.cleiss.fr/docs/regimes/regime_france/an_1.html Don't assume everything is the same now as it was in 2008, a lot has changed. Hollande has been and gone, now we have Macron and more changes on the way. Probably a good idea to forget all about how things worked in 2008 and do some general research from scratch.[/quote] The changes impacting me re Health insurance cover were introduced by Sarkozy. For the 3 month "window" what cover is available. I understood EHIC won't cover you if you are resident overseas. Previous changes required you to have Private Insurance to be classed as "legally resident" (I think it was 5 years then you could apply to join CPAM). I don't regard 3 months without health cover as a risk (I'm fortunate enough to rarely use medical services) and I note the new Puma scheme requires you to be resident only "on a stable and ongoing basis". My concerns stem from my previous experiences registering with CPAM where they were sticklers for paperwork (and rejected a couple of E106's). I will research more (thanks as the name of the scheme will help a lot) as the linked page seems to include conflicting things e.g. "Under the new Universal Healthcare Coverage system (Protection Universelle Maladie/ PUMA), which was rolled out on January 1st, 2016, adults can no longer be considered beneficiaries, even if they are not employed. Only minors continue to be considered beneficiaries up to September 30th of the year in which they reach the age of 18, whether or not they are enrolled in certain educational programs, and provided that they are not employed." - suggests adults excluded? I also note "Strictly speaking, the régulière test continues to be a problem for economically inactive early retirees from Europe, for it requires you have health insurance cover and be resident for at least five years. In guidance issued as part of the introduction of PUMA early retirees with under 5 years' legal residence are excluded from PUMA unless there was a change in their circumstances whilst resident in France that prevents them continuing to obtaining private health insurance." Meaning I'd still need Private Health Insurance for 5 years (or until I reach retirement age IF the UK Gov. then underwrites the costs ......) Thanks

(I've done a forum search but not found or have missed answers - if me missing then many apologies). I used to live in France but commitments forced a return to the UK around the time that the Private Health Insurance for "inactif's" was introduced (2007/8'ish). When I moved back to UK there were no companies offering cover to match the Gov. then required level of cover. I'm now considering my return, again as "inactif" and not yet of retirement age. Truth is that Brexit is bringing my plans forward subject to your rights under Freedom of Movement depending on where you reside on the day the UK leaves (so a lot still up-in-the-air subject to 101 possibilities and who knows what UK will do for even those retired ...). But to return to residing in France I would undoubtedly need Private Health Insurance (unless those requirements have dramatically changed (I used up my E106 last time I lived in France ... and no more NI contributions since then). So question: Are there companies offering Private Health Cover that meets whatever Gov. requirements might be (i.e. to be legally resident). And if so and whilst premiums must vary depending on individual, what sort of pricing (e.g. at US levels, comparable to BUPA in UK, experience for a healthy somebody in early 60's - any ideas). And/or pointing me to any companies offering such policies. Many thanks.