Reminder: what is AME and why is it vital for women?
A person without residency rights in France cannot legally work, cannot access social benefits, and cannot be covered by the general social security system. In these situations, AME is the only way to access healthcare.
It enables access to treatment for chronic illnesses (such as diabetes), contraception, antenatal care, breast cancer screening and treatment, HIV medication, and more.
Research conducted by Women for Women France shows that the majority of women without residency rights in France are in this situation because of administrative coercive control by an abusive partner: the confiscation or destruction of identity documents, the sabotage of administrative procedures (such as refusing to provide required supporting documents), blocking access to online platforms, and other forms of coercion.
This is compounded by major dysfunctions in the Administration numérique pour les étrangers en France (ANEF) online platform, which have caused many foreign nationals to lose their residency rights, as found by the organisation Défenseur des droits in 2024.
Situations linked to “irregular immigration” in the strict sense are, in reality, a minority.
Proposed reform no. 1: “Joint assessment” of financial resources
In August 2025, the Bayrou government sent the National Health Insurance Fund (CNAM) two draft decrees to reform AME. One of them introduced “joint assessment”, meaning that the income of the insured woman’s partner would be taken into account when assessing eligibility for AME.
Any woman living with a partner whose income exceeded a very low monthly threshold would have lost her access to AME and, as a result, all access to healthcare in France. This reform, introduced by decree, would have made 100,000 women financially dependent on their partner in order to access medical care.
This would have been a major and historic setback for women’s fundamental rights in France.
Women for Women France immediately alerted the government that this reform was based on a misinterpretation of the 2025 report by Senator Delahaye.
At this stage, it appears that the new government has abandoned this measure.
Proposed reform no. 2: requirement to provide a photo ID
A second draft decree transmitted to CNAM seeks to exclude from AME women who do not have an identity document with a photograph.
However, this proposal ignores the reality experienced by many women subjected to violence. It is very common for perpetrators (violent partners, traffickers, exploitative employers, and others) to confiscate, destroy, or retain victims’ identity documents in order to control them and increase their dependence.
Whether intended or not, this reform would deprive these women of essential medical care at the very moment when they need it most, for example following physical violence, sexual assault, rape, or psychological abuse.
We estimate that around 85,000 women are currently in an irregular situation due to administrative coercive control, which can have devastating consequences. This form of domestic abuse is not yet recognised in the French Penal Code.
Unlike the first measure, this proposal is still under consideration.
What Women for Women France has done
Women for Women France has formally alerted the Prime Minister, the Minister for Health, and the Minister for Gender Equality. We have also contacted key political leaders and party heads.
What you can do
Because these reforms can be adopted by simple decree, without parliamentary debate, and signed only by the Prime Minister and the Minister for Health, your mobilisation is essential:
1. Contact the Prime Minister and the Minister for Health directly on social media and ask them to make a clear public commitment not to sign these decrees. Every message counts in preventing thousands of women—already exposed to violence—from also being denied their fundamental right to health.
Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu:
Minister for Health Stéphanie Rist:
2. You can also write to them using their public email addresses. If you wish, you can use this email template.
- Stéphanie Rist: online contact form.
- Sébastien Lecornu: [email protected]
Media
Inquires or interview requests: [email protected]
Sign up to our Press Office to receive access to our media statements and comments, as soon as they are issued. WFWF cannot comment on cases currently before the court.
If you are writing about domestic abuse, please consider including resources for victims in your article:
- Emergency services (police, ambulance, fire): 112 (24/7)
- Multilingual Online Resource Centre for victims of domestic abuse and gender-based violence: www.womenforwomenfrance.org (24/7)
- Helpline for victims of domestic abuse and gender-based violence: 3919 (24/7)
Keep up-to-date
Every two months, the Women for Women France newsletter provides information about available resources, new measures, and news concerning domestic abuse, coercive control, and migrants rights in France.
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About WFWF
Women for Women France (WFWF) is the creator and manager of the national Online Multilingual Online Resource Centre for all people confronted with domestic abuse and gender-based violence in France. Our expertise is in domestic abuse, coercive control, and migrants’ rights.
WFWF has a team of multi-disciplinary experts in France who monitor current events and laws and provide research-based insights and recommendations.