Coronavirus and Social Security: removal of the waiting period for French expatriates

Coronavirus and social security coverage: Abolition of the waiting period for French expatriates returning to France between 1 March 2020 and 1 June 2020 as part of their affiliation to the French social security regime, notably for sickness and maternity insurances.

In France the law 2020-290 of 23 March 2020 has established a “sanitary” state of emergency due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Article 13 of this Act provides that, by way of derogation, French expatriates returning to France between 1 March 2020 and 1 June 2020 and who are not employed, are affiliated to the sickness and maternity insurances without being subject to the normally applicable waiting period.

As a reminder, domestic law (universal sickness protection) provides since January 2016, that French nationals or foreigners in a legal situation (in respect to immigration laws)who are not covered by a social security scheme of another State, may benefit notably from the coverage of health expenses, provided that they can justify that they have been residing in France continuously for more than 3 months.

The opinion of our experts

This derogation is implemented in the COVID-19 exceptional context, as part of the health emergency measures implemented. It will provide administrative relief in the context of the repatriation from abroad of French nationals.

Diane Artis

Diane Artis, Partner, has over 20 years’ experience in French and international individual income tax matters. She assists leading worldwide companies in French individual tax matters, including income tax consequences […]

Fatia Bouteiller

Fatia Bouteiller joined Deloitte Société d’Avocats in 2017 to strengthen the Immigration team. She has 15 years of international mobility experience in the areas of immigration, expatriation and social security […]

Aude Barrans

Manager within the International Mobility team, specializing in social security and immigration issues, Aude Barrans advises companies on a daily basis in the context of professional immigration of their foreign […]