Hi Helene,

We’ll look into your PMI query.

In the meantime, you should be aware that if you are a French national, you should have access to free NHS hospital care (as France is in the EEA / European Economic Area).

As you’re employed/self-employed with your principal place of business in the UK, you should be fully exempt from NHS hospital charges in England. This exemption also applies to your spouse, civil partner or children (under the age of 16 or 19 if in further education) if they are living with you in the UK on a permanent basis.

You may need to produce your European Health Card/E111 card. Some hospitals may accept proof of nationality or a work permit.

Access to primary care services (e.g. seeing a G.P) is down to the discretion of the local practice or Trust.

If your health conditions are something that is normally treated through primary care rather than a hospital, then PMI is something you will probably need to look at. As mentioned, we’ll get back to you on the PMI options!

Hello Helene, thanks for your detailed question. It’s a good one! I also know expats here who go home for medical and dental treatment – mainly because it’s better. However, we will go ahead and research this for you and let you know. Keep checking back here for the answers! Jasmine

I’m a French expat and have been working in the UK for nearly 3 years.
I tried the NHS but my existing conditions are not on their ‘list’: they only do diabetes, obesity, and they tried to get me to do tests for venereal diseases! I met a German pharmacist who has been working for the NHS for nearly 5 years, and she still travels back to Germany for medical treatment. I’ve also met a couple of Polish people who travelled back to Poland, including for operations.
So I also travel back to France every couple of months: dentist, GP, specialist, blood tests, glasses… It’s really expensive especially since I dont’ live in London and I use ‘secteur 2’, i.e. private medical professionals. I have been postponing a stay in hospital for tests for over a year, and I am worried that if I ever needed an operation (slipped disc, artificial heart valve, eyesight etc.) I would not be able to fund it.
When I was working in France I had private medical insurance through work so I only spent a couple of hundreds euros a year, for stuff which were not well covered like glasses.
I’ve looked at the private health insurance offered to French expats by Caisse des Francais de l’Etranger, and it is really expensive: they seem to have started on the assumption that most expats are married with a stayathome wife, and several children, so the singletons have to fund these people’s medical treatment through high fees for everybody.
Could you research insurance companies (not necessarily UK based) which offer PMI specifically for expats who want treatment abroad?
Thanks in advance.