Hi Everyone,
I'd appreciate your advice - my knowledge of the current system in France is too sketchy:

I've a friend who is in the midst of an ugly separation.
He wants to get away from the UK for a bit.
He's a professional photographer but not really able to work at that right now and would probably seek agricultural work out there.
He has a medical condition that requires fairly regular visits to the Dr. and can make him unable to work at times.

Questions are:
Will he have access to medical services?
In the event that he can't work - what does it take for him to be eligible for some form of social cover?

Thanks for taking the time to read this.
Treskillard

If he brings his eHic card then medical access is not an issue he can combine it with top up insurance. Access to any form of Social Security here will be after he has worked a certain period of hours 600+ Im not sure of the exact figure as I cant find the Oh payslip ironiclly hers has each month written on it when she can claim unemployment on it. In the unskilled arena it is very common for 6 months on 6 off.

Thanks Ka Ora. With the medical is it right that he'll have to pay up front for visits and prescriptions? Then claim it back?

hey
if he has paid uk nat insurance then he can also use a E106 form to get a carte vitale valid for about 2 years, which may be better in the long term; it just depends how long he intends to stay?

Thanks DM: He has paid his NI - how long to Carte Vitale take to come through then?

6 Months too Two years

ooh no!

here inToulouse, mine came through within 3months and hubby's in 2 months
I think it depends where you live!

Thank you very much for your replies.
I may come back with other questions later.