Expats fear health cover could vanish as French tightens the rules

France is struggling with their health system as well, even to the point of asking to return his French health card.  The basic issue appears to be those individuals who retire in France from other countries, namely the UK that have things heated up.  BD 

Thousands of Britons who have moved to France for early retirement could lose their rights to state health care under a new law that limits benefits to nonworking expatriates. In a move that has spread alarm in the southern and western regions favoured by the British, the authorities have begun enforcing a 2006 law that bars unemployed EU citizens from joining the French health system. A few hundred cases have already been refused, said Larry Fulton, whose company in the south of France handles private insurance for British expatriates. We are dealing with about 350 calls a day from people who are worried.

In at least one case, a resident Briton has been asked to return his French health card. Charles Mochan, 59, a former British High Commissioner to Fiji, received a curt letter from his local office in the Pyrénées region telling him that he was no longer entitled to cover. “It was a bit of a shock,” Mr Mochan told The Times.

Mr Ross voiced understanding for the French position. “An awful lot of British people turn up here with no jobs and no money and think they can just stay on like that.”

Expats fear health cover could vanish as French tighten rules - Times Online