2. Health Insurance Cover in France

1. Introduction
2. Health Cover for Self-Employed
3. Health Cover for Cross Border Workers
4. Health Cover for Retired Persons
5. Health Cover for Early Retirees
6. European Health Insurance Card (EHIC)/Global Health Insurance Card (GHIC)
7. Travelling Abroad from France

2.3. Health Cover for Cross-Border Workers

Within Europe, European Council Regulation 1408/71 underpins the right of EEA Nationals to work in another EEA State in keeping with the principle of the free movement of labour enshrined in the Treaty of Rome and subsequent treaties.

The free movement of labour can only be realistic if social benefits can also be transferred, including health cover.

Forms are used that act as a certificate of entitlement to health care in another EEA country, provided courtesy of the social security authorities in your home country.

The forms mean that you will not need to pay French health insurance service contributions for the duration of the period stated on the form.

The main forms that are available to cross-border workers/self-employed persons are 'A1' and 'S1'. These enable you to take advantage of health arrangements in France whilst maintaining social security contributions in your home country.

Form A1 - Issued to those who are employed or self-employed, working on a temporary basis in another EEA country for one year, renewable for another year.

The A1 form certifies which social security legislation applies to the holder of the form where you, as an employed or self-employed person, have a connection through your employment or self-employment with more than one EU country.

The A1 is issued by the country to whose legislation you are subject and confirms that you are not subject to the legislation of any other country you are connected with – in other words you will have no obligation to pay social security (including health insurance) contributions in the other countries.

Form S1 - Issued to those who are resident in one EU country but work in another. The form is used to obtain health cover where your family lives and is delivered per person, not per family.

The issue of such forms is not automatic, and each case is judged on its merits. Care must be taken in completing the application form.

Health cover is restricted in the same way as that of any other French resident and, therefore, only a proportion of health costs are covered (typically 70%).

Since 2021 UK workers who are posted abroad by their employer, or you work in more than one country, or you live in one country but work in another, you can apply for a Global Health Insurance Card.

You will need to provide all relevant information to HMRC who decide on a case by case basis. You can contact them at National Insurance: non-UK residents.You can also use Check which country's social security legislation applies to you (CA8421.

For EEA nationals we can distinguish two circumstances.

i. Temporarily Working in Home Country and Resident in France

If you and your family are living in France, but one of you temporarily commutes across the border to your home EEA country to work, then an A1 is normally available for health cover in France for a year, renewable for a further year.

Accordingly, you will continue to pay your national insurance contributions in your home country.

You will be covered for health cover in France through a European Health Insurance Card (EHIC).

ii. Permanently Working in the Home Country - Family Resident in France

Where one of the spouses permanently works and lives in your home country, whilst the family is resident in France then the form normally used is the S1.

The form should be presented to your local health authority in France, called the Caisse Primaire d’Assurance Maladie (CPAM).

The use of form S1 will enable you and your family to obtain continuing medical cover in France.

No health care contributions will be payable in France, as you will pay social security contributions in your home country.

There are also special rules for civil servants and mariners, and transport workers, which we do not consider here.

Next: Health Cover for Persons of Retirement Age

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