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.