I work in London and live in France. Apparently I am not entitled to an E106 if I "remote work". This is the case even for the sake of sending a single work-related email. At the same time, the government is happy to refuse me child tax credits, but happy to take income tax, NI contributions, and corporation tax from us.
My wife is a french national who has paid into the french system over many years, but on returning with a brit husband and kids, is entitled to zero - no healthcare, help to find work, retrain,etc. But if she had stayed and not worked all her life, or claimed asylum, then things would be fine.
Oh, and yes, London is full of French people working - but I don't regard them as leeches.

Johnny Marr, Montreuil sur Mer, France

I live in South Eats France with my wife and we own the house we live in which we have renovated and also three apartments and a small office which we rent out to French people for our income as we are both under retitement age.
We pay our French Social Contributions and have just received a letter (04/11/07) telling us that we are no longer covered by the French Health System s of March 31st 2008.

We cannot afford the cost of private health insurance and the irony is that when we came to France around five years ago it was illegal to have only a private health insurance and you were forced into joining their health system.

I now have a minor heart problem which was diagnosed about 18 months to two years ago and it may even be impossible for me to get private cover now even if I could afford it.

This may mean that I a in fact being expelled from this country as without 'Comprehensive Health Cover' I and my wife become illegal.

David, Drome

David, Die,

I have just retired to France aged 55. I have a small teacher's pension and the money from my house sale. I now have a French mortgage and this news is devastating. I have paid all my life into the National Insurance and Tax schemes in the UK and consider myself a European. Brits prop up the economies in the rural areas of France. We buy houses to renovate, employ local artisans and spend in local shops. It is short sighted of the French Government to penalise us. If we move out what will happen to these run down areas? Give us what we are entitled to- we have paid, and our Government pay too.

Graydon Paulette, Pouance, France

To Marat from Toulouse - not that many English move to France just for the healthcare - this really is a misconception. Most of us came here because we adore France. And what about the hundreds of thousands of French in the UK with free access to the NHS, whether they work or not? Are you French? If so, many of your compatriots find a job in the UK because there are not enough jobs in France. Your use of the word 'leeches' seems a tad xenophobic. Many of us have paid thousands of euros in taxes and social charges over the years to the French state. Many contribute far more than they take out. Just because you are not salaried doesn't mean you don't pay your social charges and taxes on income including a contribution into CMU. I understand that France is nearly bankrupt and has to cut costs somewhere but instead of denying people access to a health system through contributions the State could ask us to pay more - I would if asked. My kids are even French nationality now.

Penny, Marseillan, France

This is mostly ill-informed hysteria from expat Brits who arrive here with a colonial attitude and expect the benefits of the greatly superior French health system without having to make any contribution. The last few years have seen the arrival of too many of these leeches.

Marat, Toulouse,

David Burton, needs to get himself sorted out. The E111 is for emergency treatment for short term visitors, covered by their home system. If you work in france, then you must pay social security somewhere. Pay into the french system, and you are covered by the french system. Pay into the uk system and you apply for E106 from the uk, that will allow you to get the same benefits as the french. Its just a question of who finally pays.
The problem is that the UK will not give a E106 to people who do not pay UK national insurance, and the french won't cover you if you do not pay into their system.
So much for the EU and mobility of people!

roger tedman, Cros, France

It is wrong to believe you are covered in France by the E106. card. The card only covers emergency treatment , any follow up has to be paid for by you personally. I work in France and so far after one year have not received by Carte Vitale. After an accident at home I have had to have three operations on my wrist, the first was covered as an emergency and the hospital stay was also taken care of. The subsequent interventions had to be paid for as were all the following appointments. The French still ask for the E111 which I understand was replaced by the 106 in January 2006. However I would still prefer to be treated in France than to die of C diff. in the UK.

David Burton, Nancy, France

If the French do this, then so should the UK.

Alex, Leeds, UK

I work in Germany along with Australians, Irish, Ukrainian, Romanian people etc. (all teaching English as a foreign language) - do you honestly think we get free health care? Sorry.. I don't know how to write in words the sound made when spluttering in disbelief. I have a reasonably priced health insurance policy from a UK health insurance company that has a policy for expats. I have to pay a small proportion of each bill myself, but in the end, I save a lot more than I need.

Tina, Duesseldorf, Germany

Some Social Security entitlement made (through long term contributions) in other countries can be transferred (e.g. state pension), so perhaps it should be possible to transfer one's "NHS" entitlement too? Or at least have some long term "cross-charging" method rather than the short term E106. After all, if you stay in the UK after retirement you are entitled to NHS until death.
But I agree with the enforcement. If you haven't paid into the French social security system, why should you feel entitled to claim from it?!
If you have enough money to go and retire in France, it's reasonable to expect that you should cover your medical liabilities too.

Andrew Wood, Evreux, France

Why not just claim asylum? It's all the rage among the people who have "no jobs and no money".

Emil, Leipzig, EU