French government backtracks on healthcare reforms
Expatriates in France have welcomed a u-turn by the country's government regarding proposed changes to its healthcare system.
Authorities had planned to strip foreign nationals of the right to free healthcare if they had taken early retirement, thereby forcing them to take out private health insurance.
This could have resulted in large bills for those who regularly use medical services, such as older people or those with chronic conditions.
However, the French government has now backed down after lobbying by expats, Euro MEPs and members of the British parliament.
Commenting on the development, Labour MEP Mary Honeyball stated that it would be a "huge relief" to expats living in France.
She told the Press Association: "These changes would have left some of the most vulnerable in society without access to healthcare."
According to BUPA International, France's healthcare system is one of the reasons for France's popularity among Britons who retire early.
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