What a pain!!

If one approach seemed simple to me, it is this one. What a nenni, good people.

However, it all started well, with a phone call to MGEN to find out what to do about health coverage abroad.

But it quickly got complicated:

The Explanations of the MGEN

– It is necessary to move to the SEM (extra-metropolitan section of the MGEN

– You must take out insurance with the CFE (Caisse des Français de l’Étranger)

The purpose of this double contribution is to completely change status by being considered as an expatriate sometimes passing through France. The interest is to be covered abroad (in any country) by the CFE in the same (or even better) conditions of support as the Sécu in France. The SEM will provide the mutual share.

In the end, no more security contributions in France, the MGEN rate is not higher than with my current contract, but the CFE is to be paid in addition (a priori €120 per month).

The reality

Again, so far, it seems rather simple. But it gets complicated because to be able to make this membership, it is essential that my pension is paid by the DSIPE (Specialised Directorate of Public Finance for Abroad) based in Nantes. Currently, my retirement is managed by Limoges.

After multiple attempts, I manage to contact Limoges who simply refuses to transfer my pension to the DSIPE!!!

Reason: it is essential to have a FIXED address abroad!

The galley

It took me many phone calls and good calm, negotiating and understanding skills to accept the idea that I will be travelling, and that I do not think I am the only retiree in the public service in this case.

A month later, I get this transfer, not without having to give the name of a city of residence. I keep a postal address in France with my parents) to be reached by mail.

However, I will have to provide every 6 months a document signed by my hand certifying that I am still alive (proof of existence).

My pension will be paid as I wish, to a bank account in France. I will take care of the transfers.

I can assure you that this formality is likely, due to its difficulty and time invested, to discourage any candidate at the beginning.

I started these steps in June.

It’s July 24, and everything is not settled:

– The MGEN did not close my file because the DSFIPE certificate is not enough for them (more). They want a copy of my first pension slip paid by the DSFIPE

– The DSFIPE cannot yet send me a pension bulletin since having only recovered my file in July, the first bulletin will be published for July, i.e. early August

– The CFE did not process my file because they are late