How to find health insurance for your French visa
If you are looking to move to France and you do not hold EU citizenship, then you will first need a visa.
For several types of visas, including the
'Visiteur' status
which is common amongst retirees and second-home owners, it is necessary to show that you have health coverage for the duration of your stay.
Some countries have bilateral agreements with France so that their public healthcare is carried over at least at a minimum - for example, Brits in France can use the
GHIC
(Global Health Insurance Card) to cover their emergency and unplanned treatments in France.
But if you come from a country that does not have a bilateral agreement with France, or does not provide state medical care - like the United States - then you will need a private health insurance policy that covers the duration of your visa.
Please note that The Local cannot recommend any individual companies and any examples given below are for guidance only and do not constitute a recommendation
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What type of plan will I need?
If you are applying for a visa that asks for proof of health coverage, then the initial requirement might simply say
Attestation d'une assurance maladie couvrant la durée de votre séjour'
(document proving you have healthcare for the duration of your visit).
This is pretty vague, but when you go further, you ought to get more detail.
For example, people applying for visitors' visas to France from the United States are asked to show a "Travel health insurance certificate issued by the insurance company, covering any possible costs for medical repatriation, and emergency and/or hospital treatment, for a minimum amount of €30,000".
It must be "valid in France for the whole stay" and a "copy of your American health insurance card is not an acceptable proof of adequate coverage."
There is no official list of private health plans that are accepted, or a list of 'approved' companies - it is up to you to find a policy that fits the requirements specified on your visa.
How to find a good health plan
In theory, any travel health plan that covers repatriation and emergency/ hospital treatment of at least €30,000 should be acceptable.
There are several types of options - depending on your nationality, there might be an association that exists to offer people health coverage. For example, the
Association of Americans Resident Overseas
(AARO) has their own health plan.
Then, there are French companies that offer private insurance (for example,
MondAssur
,
ACS
and
Fab
), as well as international companies that offer global private coverage (ex,
Cigna
,
Allianz
and
Axa
).
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Be sure to carefully read through the offer from the plan, and check to see if there is an age maximum and whether it covers pre-existing conditions.
READ MORE:
Urgent care: How to get non-emergency medical treatment in France
You could also use an insurance broker - this will add an extra cost but the broker can give you an idea of how helpful the customer service apparatus is, as well as how easy it might be to make a claim in the future.
Recommendations from friends and members of 'expat' groups can be useful, but remember that everyone's personal circumstances are different so you should always check carefully that a policy covers your particular needs.
Check that the plan that allows cancellation in the event that your visa is refused for whatever reason.
Can't I just sign up for French healthcare after three months?
You can sign up for a
carte vitale
and join the French healthcare system after three months of living in France.
READ MORE:
The different ways you can make a doctor's appointment in France
That said, it can take several months for a
carte vitale
to be processed, and embassy/consular authorities will expect to private health coverage that lasts the duration of your visa.
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While you might be able to opt for a plan that allows early cancellation, many expect that you agree to a full year.
It is also worth keeping in mind that French public healthcare is not free. The system itself must be funded, and users 'pay in' to the system via social charges known as
cotisations
.
Most people who are working in France won't really notice these - they disappear from your salary or income along with a bunch of other things including income taxes, pension contributions and unemployment insurance.
However, if you are below retirement age and you are not working in France, then there is a chance you will be sent a bill for your
cotisations
.
READ MORE:
Cotisations: Why you might get an unexpected French health bill
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