French Residency

[tinabee]

quote user "Louise&Gary"  "Thanks TB, you sound like you know what you are talking about. The person at HMRC said that completion of the P85 was not the process per se, rather than the start of the process by which my pension could ultimately should I wish be taxed here. Was she giving me duff gen?? Is there any other way of getting a cotisation other than working etc? I do not actually need to work from a financial point of view."

The P85 simply tells HMRC that you are no longer tax resident in the UK, so you should have already completed one when you left. There are no choices about where you are taxed. If you live in France permanently, then you must declare ALL of your worldwide income here, however, income which must be taxed in the UK, like your Govt service pension, is given a credit, so that you are not taxed twice on that amount.

There is no other way of getting into the French healthcare system at the moment if you are "inactive", but this may be changing due to a recent EU ruling. If you are currently getting healthcare by an S1 form from the UK, then you MAY be able to pay into the system of CMU (Couverture Maladie Universelle) - which is a contribution based on your income, once your S1 expires. This thread may help explain the current situation.

http://www.completefrance.com/cs/forums/2573820/ShowPost.aspx

For an explanation of the Healthcare system, have a look at this site

http://www.frenchhealthissues.eu/health_system/how_health_system_works.htm

 

[Oboulez]

Thanks again TB. We both have S1's valid until 2014. Our son was born here, and I can attest what is frequently the case - the great British self delusion that whatever (in this case the health system, but is could be the police or whatever) is somehow "the envy of the world" falls - somewhat short in reality. I have to do some research re what is and what is not covered by the basic cover so that I can decide what if any 'top up' insurance may be desirable.

[Will]

Don't expect perfection from the French health service, police, education system, etc - otherwise you will end up being disappointed.

As you are realising, France works in a totally different way from England in many respects, the health service being just one of these. Things like waiting lists may be shorter, but at a cost, as those of us who have had to pay for it through cotisations know only too well. As far as things being covered or not by the state is concerned, the general rule is that the state system pays up to 70% (sometimes a lower percentage) of the 'basic', the rest is down to you, either out of your own pocket or through a top-up assurance. As the 'basic' falls far short of the 'actual' in the case of things like many optical and dental charges, as well as for some hospitals and specialists, the cost to you can be considerable. Even in the most basic hospital you are likely to end up with bills for things like meals. My view is that not having a topup is foolhardy to say the least. Bear in mind that a so-called '100%' policy only reimburses up to the 'convention', i.e. the figure laid down by the state, and as mentioned above, in reality many things are charged above that figure, so you may find you need a '200%' or even '400%' policy to meet your costs.

I don't know about the "envy of the world" but in many ways the British systems are the envy of Sarkozy, who would love to be able to bring the costs under control and make the sort of cuts that can be made, however unpopular they are, under the UK regime.