Medical Treatments Abroad: France

Mr. Streeter: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will extend the E106s of British citizens currently living abroad in France, so they will not have to obtain private medical insurance to access healthcare following a change in French law. [177912]

Dawn Primarolo: Under European Union regulations if someone moves to another European Economic Area country to live they are entitled to health care paid for by the United Kingdom in the following circumstances only:

they are in receipt of a UK state pension or other exportable benefit (an E121 will be issued by the UK)

they are posted abroad by a UK employer and still pay tax and national insurance in the UK (an E106 will be issued by the UK).

In addition the UK does under certain circumstances pay the health care costs for a limited period of those people who move abroad before they are in receipt of their pension. (An E106 will be issued by the UK). There are no plans to extend this entitlement.

Commenting on the reply, Gary Streeter MP, Chairman of the Conservative Party International Office said: 

“I am once again disappointed by the response the minister has given. It is unacceptable that Labour Government is not prepared to extend the E106s of British citizens living in France, who when their E106 expires, may be financially crippled by the cost of private medical insurance. Conservatives Abroad will continue to pressure the government to make sure that the French Government allow ‘inactifs’ to enter the system who were already resident in France before the changes in the law were made.