Health Cover - Long Let

[John Brown]

After travelling round France and hopping back to Britain for the odd short break over the last two months we have now decided on a region to explore with a view to settle or not !

We've found a long let for a year. What insurance cover do we need for this period. We will continue to fly back to the UK during the year for the odd week for family visits etc

We consider ourselves on an extended holiday with a view to seeing if its the life we want, while keeping our options open. Any comments please 

 

[val douest]

It might be worth repeating your post under the health forum as no one seems to have picked it up under this heading.  I don't know what the legal position is and whether 'an extended holiday' is an acceptable definition of your status.  If you are looking for more comprehensive cover than the Eurohealth card will give you then Trailfinders (www.trailfinders.com) will give cover for stays elsewhere in Europe for up to 6 months, which might work in with your trips back home. But other people may be able to advise whether your 1-year stay makes you a resident for healthcare purposes - try a post under health and also do a search on that forum.

[Sunday Driver]

Regardless of what you may consider yourself to be, if you have moved your family home to France (ie, you'll be living in this long term let), then you will be classed as permanently resident - and therefore tax resident - in France.  Apart from having to make a French tax declaration, you will also be required to register under the French state healthcare insurance system.

If you are living (but not working) in France, then you may qualify for a form E106 which will exempt you from paying contributions to the state insurance system for up to two years.  The state system reimburses you around 70% of your medical treatment costs, the remainder being covered by a top-up insurance which you will need to buy.