The new French budget proposal has sparked debate about healthcare access for Americans who have chosen to settle in France. Over the past few years, the number of Americans moving to France has steadily increased. They are young professionals, artists, and above all, retirees seeking a slower pace of life and a healthcare system that values people over profit.
Under current law, any non-EU citizen holding a valid long-stay visa can apply for France’s carte vitale, the green health insurance card that provides access to the national healthcare system. Usually, new residents must wait three months before applying, unless they are studying or hold an official letter from a French employer. Once registered, they receive a French social security number and full access to the national health coverage, known as Protection Universelle Maladie (PUMA). Through PUMA, the majority of medical costs in France are covered by the state, including doctor visits, hospital stays, medications, and laboratory tests.
For many Americans, this level of access feels revolutionary. In the United States, monthly health insurance premiums often start at five hundred dollars per person and can climb far higher, especially for those with chronic conditions. In France, consultations typically cost between 20 and 26 euros, of which 70% is reimbursed automatically. With the carte vitale, patients rarely handle paperwork. Pharmacies, doctors, and hospitals communicate directly with the national system, and additional expenses can be covered by a supplementary policy known as a mutuelle.
This system has attracted a growing number of Americans who see France not only as a cultural destination but also as a place where health and dignity are protected. A recent report by LCI featured retirees from Florida, Texas, and Maine who described discovering what they called “the French dream.” One woman living in Marseille told reporters, “They treat me like a Fabergé egg. I live thanks to my prescriptions from French social security.” Another couple said that in the United States, they each paid over five hundred dollars a month to manage their diabetes. In France, their medications and appointments are fully covered.
Yet this situation has sparked controversy in France. Critics argue that PUMA, originally designed to protect residents from social exclusion, is now being used by non-contributing foreigners. François Gernigon, a member of Parliament with the Horizons party, has recently called for a new contribution from foreign residents who benefit from the French system. “The carte vitale cannot be entirely free,” he said, proposing a health care package model similar to private mutual insurance, with a minimum fee and optional add-ons. His amendment will be debated in the National Assembly in the coming days.
Whether the government moves toward reform or not, one fact remains: for many Americans, France represents more than a change of address. It is a rediscovery of something the modern world too often forgets: that healthcare is not a privilege, but a shared human right.