Health Insurance for Foreigners in France
Foreigners typically choose between public coverage, a supplementary mutuelle, or standalone international health insurance depending on their residency and employment status. A global medical plan may be a good option if you are not yet eligible for public coverage, want private medical coverage, or need protection in France and other countries.
How Does Health Insurance Work in France?
Health insurance in France operates through a public system that reimburses part of eligible healthcare costs, often combined with a supplementary private plan to cover the remaining expenses.
Foreigners in France have three main options for long-term health coverage: French public health insurance, a complementary mutuelle, and international health insurance.
Those who meet the relevant employment or residency requirements may qualify for public coverage through protection universelle maladie (PUMa). Once enrolled, they can use a Carte Vitale to process eligible healthcare costs and reimbursements. However, the public system does not cover all healthcare expenses, so many residents use a mutuelle, a supplementary private plan that helps cover the healthcare costs the French public system does not fully reimburse.
International health plans are another option. Rather than supplementing the French public system, they provide standalone private medical coverage in France and other countries within the plan’s selected geographic area.
For more information about PUMa, eligibility, registration, reimbursements, and the Carte Vitale, see our Healthcare System in France guide.
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What Health Insurance Do I Need for France?
The type of health insurance you need for France depends on your residency, employment, eligibility for the French public healthcare system, and whether you need coverage outside France.
Your Situation | Coverage Option | Key Feature |
Ineligible for the French public system | A private or international health plan | Provides protection while you establish longer-term coverage |
Eligible for public coverage | French public health insurance | Helps cover eligible healthcare costs in France |
Want additional coverage alongside the public system | A mutuelle | Helps cover eligible costs not fully reimbursed by the public system |
Need protection in multiple countries | An international health plan | Provides broader medical coverage in France and other countries |
Visiting France temporarily | A travel medical plan | Designed primarily for unexpected illness or injury during a trip |
Visiting France for a Short Stay?
Short-term visitors have different coverage needs. Depending on your nationality and visa requirements, you may need travel insurance for France rather than a long-term health plan.
Eligible visitors from the EU, EEA, and Switzerland may be able to use a European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) to access medically necessary state healthcare during a temporary stay in France. Eligible UK visitors may be able to use a Global Health Insurance Card (GHIC). However, these cards do not replace travel insurance, so travelers should consider whether they need additional coverage for their trip.
Best Expat Health Insurance in France
We recommend the following expat health plans in France based on their comprehensive coverage, strong international benefits, and access to global provider networks.
Cigna Global Insurance Plan
Cigna Global Health Insurance offers flexible global coverage for expats living in France. Its modular plan design lets you select a level and add optional benefits based on your healthcare needs and budget.
Cigna Global Insurance Plan
- Flexible plans tailored to your needs and budget
- 1.5M+ providers in 200+ countries
- 24/7 multilingual customer support
BCBS Global Solutions Worldwide Premier
For U.S. citizens moving to France, BCBS Global Solutions Worldwide Premier is a strong choice for international health coverage.
The plan provides global medical benefits and access to healthcare providers worldwide, including the Blue Cross Blue Shield network in the United States. This is particularly valuable for American expats who want access to a familiar provider network when they return home.
BCBS Global Solutions Worldwide Premier
- Unlimited annual and lifetime coverage
- Pre-existing conditions covered with prior insurance
- For U.S. citizens abroad or foreign nationals in the U.S.
Not sure which plan is right for you? Compare Cigna Global and BCBS Global Solutions to review their coverage and benefits side by side.
What Does International Coverage Include?
International health plans provide private medical coverage in France and other countries, depending on the geographic area you select.
Benefits can include inpatient and outpatient treatment, doctor and specialist visits, diagnostic tests, prescriptions, and mental health services. Some plans also offer optional benefits such as dental, vision, and global maternity coverage.
Benefits, exclusions, limits, and geographic areas vary by policy. For a more detailed explanation of benefits and plan options, see our International Health Insurance guide.
Using Hospitals and Private Healthcare in France
With a global medical plan, how you access and pay for hospital care in France and other private medical care depends on your insurer and policy.
Some insurers can arrange direct billing with eligible hospitals and medical facilities. In other cases, you may need to pay for treatment and submit a claim for reimbursement. Certain treatments may also require pre-authorization.
If access to particular private hospitals, doctors, or specialists is important to you, check the insurer’s provider network and policy terms before choosing a plan.
How Much Is Health Insurance in France?
If you qualify for French public health insurance, your healthcare costs are partly reimbursed by the public system. You may also pay for a mutuelle to help cover eligible costs that the public system does not fully reimburse. The cost of a mutuelle depends on the provider, level of coverage, and benefits you choose.
With expat health insurance, you pay a private insurance premium. Costs vary based on your selected plan, age, coverage level, the deductible you choose, geographic area, and optional benefits. Adding outpatient care, dental, vision, or maternity benefits can increase the premium.
Plans that include medical treatment in the United States may cost more than policies that exclude U.S. coverage. Choosing a higher deductible can generally lower your premium, although you will pay more toward eligible treatment yourself.
To compare global plans accurately, request quotes using the same age, country of residence, geographic coverage, deductible, and benefit options. Compare the benefits, exclusions, out-of-pocket costs, and premiums.
Is International Coverage Worth It in France?
If you qualify for French public health insurance and a mutuelle provides the additional coverage you need, that combination may be sufficient.
A global health plan may be worth considering if you are not yet eligible for the public system, prefer private medical care, or need protection across multiple countries. Unlike a mutuelle, which complements the French public system, a global plan provides separate private coverage. This can be useful for frequent travelers, families living abroad, and people retiring in France who continue to spend time abroad.
The key consideration is where and how you want to be covered: either primarily within the French healthcare system or through private coverage that follows you overseas.
How to Get Health Insurance in France
How you get health insurance in France depends on whether you join the French public system, buy a mutuelle, or choose a global medical plan.
Apply for French Public Health Insurance
If you are eligible for the French public healthcare system, you can apply through protection universelle maladie (PUMa). See our French Healthcare System guide for information about eligibility, registration, CPAM, and the Carte Vitale.
Arrange a Mutuelle
If you are enrolled in the French public system, you can also purchase a mutuelle to help cover eligible healthcare costs that are not fully reimbursed. Compare available policies based on the additional coverage and reimbursement levels you need.
Apply for a Global Health Plan
If you need private or international coverage, compare global medical plans based on your needs in France and abroad, benefit levels, deductibles, provider networks, direct billing arrangements, exclusions, and budget. If you need maternity, dental, or vision coverage, check whether these benefits are included or available as optional extras.
Once you have an idea of the coverage you need, get an international health insurance quote to compare your options. After selecting a plan, complete the insurer’s application and provide any required information about your age, country of residence, geographic area, and health history. Before enrolling, review the policy terms, exclusions, and effective date.
Why Work With an International Insurance Broker?
Working with an international insurance broker can simplify the process by allowing you to compare plans and costs from multiple insurers rather than being limited to one provider.
International Citizens Insurance’s licensed advisors can help you compare your options and find coverage that fits your needs and budget at no additional cost.
Find the Best International Medical Insurance
- Compare multiple quotes from top insurers
- Get expert advice at no additional cost
- Find the right plan for your needs and budget
Health Insurance in France FAQs
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You may need travel insurance for a short stay in France, depending on your circumstances. If you need a Schengen visa, you generally need a travel medical plan with at least €30,000 in coverage for emergency medical treatment, hospitalization, and medical repatriation. Even if you are exempt from a short-stay visa, you may be asked to present an insurance certificate at the border. Check France-Visas for the requirements that apply to your trip.
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If you live or work in France, you will generally need health coverage, but the type of coverage available to you depends on your residency, employment status, and eligibility for the French public healthcare system. Some foreigners may qualify for public health insurance, while others may need private coverage upon arrival. If you are applying for a French visa, check the specific medical coverage requirements for your situation.
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Yes. You can arrange a private or global health plan before moving to France and select an appropriate coverage start date. French public healthcare generally requires you to meet eligibility requirements after you begin working or residing in the country, so private coverage may be useful when you first arrive.
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Not necessarily. If you qualify for the French public system, you may rely on it and add a mutuelle to help cover eligible costs not fully reimbursed by the public system. A global health plan may be useful if you want additional private medical benefits or coverage across multiple countries.
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No. A mutuelle is a complementary plan designed to help cover eligible healthcare costs not fully reimbursed by the French public healthcare system. A global medical plan is standalone private coverage that may cover you in France and other countries, depending on the policy and coverage area.
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Yes, but they serve different purposes. A mutuelle complements the French public system, while international health plans provide separate private medical coverage. Which approach is appropriate depends on your eligibility, the benefits you need, your budget, and whether you need coverage outside France.