Until now, the French abroad (outside Europe and Maghreb) had to contribute at least three months to the social security to benefit from the care of their care when they returned to France. This will soon be the case because of a change in legislation that seems to have taken many elected representatives of the French out of France completely by surprise.
According to a provision in the Social Security Financing Act, passed in December, they must have at least 15 years of contributions to benefit from this care and the vital card. The measure will come into effect on July 1, 2019.
Annie Michel, consular advisor in New York and vice-chair of the commission of social affairs of the Assembly of French Abroad (AFE), called the administration on the subject in a written question published on March 21 on the AFE website. She denounces a measure to the "undeniable and unfair impact for French people living abroad".
"I fell from the clouds, she says over the phone. No senator alerted us. It was discovered by talking to colleagues from the Assembly of Frenchmen Abroad". She said that this measure will affect people who seek treatment in France because they can not afford to afford expensive care in the United States. It also considers the discriminatory measure with respect to age: "what about those who have contributed for 13-14 years?she wonders. We make a big difference. We go from one quarter to fifteen years!".
Article 52, II 4th b of the Finance Act of 22 December 2018 stipulates that pensioners or old-age pension "served by a basic French social security scheme", And not exercising a professional activity, can benefit from the support during a temporary stay in France if their pension remunerates"an insurance period greater than or equal to 15 years under a French scheme".
This measure only concerns short stays in France. Beyond three months, French retirees who have not paid long enough can benefit from the PUMa medical aid scheme (Universal Health Coverage), which replaced in 2016 the Universal Medical Coverage (CMU). They can also contribute voluntarily to the Caisse des Français de l'étranger (CFE), in addition to their local insurance. But the addition can be expensive.
"This 15-year clause already existed for workers of foreign nationality. This is not only a measure of equal treatment that breaks discrimination against nationality, but also a measure of balance", Justifies the Directorate of Social Security (DSS) in its response to the question of Annie Michel. Recalling that "the insured contributes and benefits in return for health benefits"She concludes that"a pensioner who does not reside in France and who has contributed only one trimester in France during his whole career can not claim to cover his health expenses during his stays in France".
It also states that "very little"French people are concerned. "The last DREES report on pensions indicates that 1926-year-old pensioners living abroad validate on average 79 quarters, or 19.75 years ; for the 1946 generation, they validate an average of 113 quarters, or 28.25 years".
The team of Roland Lescure, French MP for North America, also points out that this measure will only concern a small number of people, even if it acknowledges having been "arrested"By the passage of 3 months to 15 years of contribution. "A middle solution would have been bettersays Christopher Weissberg, policy advisor to Roland Lescure, who said that developments will be proposed under the next social security financing law. He stressed, however, that"A quarter was not necessarily the best option"And that benefit from a"social protection for life"Having paid only three months in France and lived the rest of his life abroad is not"not justified". "The system is linked to the activity ", he recalls.
"It's disgusting"the senator of the French out of France Damien Regnard said about the measure. The former consular advisor for New Orleans refrained from voting on the funding bill because of the CSG-CRDS provisions. "We are not already benefiting from the abolition of taxes on property revenues. It was still possible for our retirees to return to France for treatment. They said to themselves that it was acquired. For me, it's an extra attack on people who are not necessarily privileged".
