There’s a question that comes up time and again when it comes to insurance in France: car insurance for foreign registered vehicles. Fabien Pelissier of FAB French Insurance whose team specialise in helping English speakers in France with all their insurance requirements, explains the process of insuring a non-France registered car…

Car Insurance for foreign registered vehicles

Most people believe that you can’t have a foreign registered car insured in France, but this isn’t true. If you’re planning to move to France and register your foreign car – which is a legal requirement – then this can take time. And while you’re waiting – you will need insurance. So if you’re asking ‘can I register a a UK registered car in France’ – the answer is yes. But there are caveats.

We can insure foreign registered vehicles in the same way as we can for a French registered vehicles with a “standard” policy. This is based upon the assumption that you will register the car or bike in France. Failure to do so may open you up to consequences which can have long term effects in France where there is a central insurer’s database. Do not consider insuring the vehicle in France if the import project isn’t solid or might be reverted.

French car insurance – how no claims bonus works

Foreign insurance history, for instance ‘no claims bonus/’no claims discount’, can be converted into the French equivalent. This is called the CRM or the bonus. The conversion may look weird at first as France doesn’t work like the rest of the world (which may not surprise you).

The maximum discount in France is 13 years (50% bonus or CRM = 0.50). The “CRM” is like your own index. It starts at 1 and each year without a claim it’s multiplied by 0.95. A maximum discount reached when your CRM is at 0.50 (e.g. 13 years without a claim). Every claim deemed to be your fault will multiply your CRM by 1.2. It takes roughly 5 years to write off a claim in France.

Unlike other countries (for instance the UK), it’s not possible to “protect” your discount here. This is why French insurers will need to see your full history (proof of no claim) and not just the “insurer’s discount” or ‘no claims bonus’. They know a 9 years no claims bonus doesn’t mean you’ve been claim free for the past 9 years. That said they also don’t care about anything that happened more than 3 years ago. French insurers only look at the past 3 years of insurance. The upside of this is that you may have a 9 years NCD with claims 5 years ago which won’t be considered when you convert your NCD into a French CRM. French insurers require proof of no claims from the previous three years which can be onerous when you’ve changed insurers each year.

There is no off road status (SORN) in France

Another major difference is that French insurers really hate insurance gaps. The “off road” status doesn’t exist in France. You must be insured even if the vehicle is no longer in driving condition. A gap in your insurance record of more than 3 months is bad for your future premiums – and a gap of more than 6 months is most certainly going to be problematic.

One big difference with French car insurance is that it’s the vehicle that’s insured – not the driver.  You can allow anyone to drive your vehicle in France if you pay for increased excess which is not expensive.

Find out more and get a quote at: FAB French insurance

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For many expats in France, administration and bureaucratic practices – for which the French are rightly renowned – can cause a frustration and confusion, including insurance. Luckily, help is at hand with an expert English speaking company who cover all aspects of insurance.

FAB French Insurance

FAB French insurance are an English speaking, French native speaking, brokerage, based in France. They are experts at anything and everything to do with insurance. Their aim is to make the whole process of insurance easy for their clients and to make sure they’ve got you covered.
Working with more than 30 insurers means that they are able to find an affordable solution for clients, and a solution that’s suitable for every situation. Fabien Pelissier of FAB French insurance says, “we take care of the tricky bits of the French system, and make sure that you get the insurance you need.” And as you’d expect, this being France, there are always a few tricky bits! FAB French Insurance have an online quote system that’s simple to use, jargon free and in plain English and you’ll get a quote back following their competitive analysis, with a clear explanation of the process.

Visa and residence Insurance for France

If you’re a non-EU citizen and want to stay in France for longer than 90 days in a 180 day period you’ll need a visa – a Visa Long Séjour (VLS-TS). Even If you want to live in France, you’ll need to apply for the one year VLS-TS. When you apply for your VLS-TS, you’ll need to include several documents such as bank statements, and most importantly, private medical insurance (PHI). One of the most common reasons for a refusal on a visa application is the insurance element. FAB French Insurance can help you get your insurance sorted and provide you with those all important documents that you need to include with your application. Get a quote for your visa and residence insurance for France

Car insurance

If you’re planning to move to France and register your foreign car – which is a legal requirement – then this can take time. And while you’re waiting – you will need insurance.  Despite what some people say, this can be done. FAB French Insurance can insure your foreign registered car in France as well as your French registered car.  And in France, it’s the car that’s insured – not the driver, so you can add on other drivers to your policy for an excess fee.

Household Insurance

French household insurance may differ from what you’re used to. You might be asked to provide photos of buildings, repair bills and more. And getting the right insurer that you can trust is really important.  We’ve heard tales of insurance companies holding out for years before paying up after a claim, often because non-French clients either didn’t understand the small print or didn’t get the right policy because they didn’t understand the differences. FAB French Insurance explain everything in English. They know that their British clients aren’t used to French insurance and they make sure that you’re made aware.

Additional Health Insurance

In France, the excellent healthcare system is available to all residents, but there is also a top up insurance system in place. 95% of adults in France have this insurance, known as a “mutuelle.” A mutuelle provides additional health cover and is different from PHI in that it doesn’t charge premiums for pre-existing conditions. Although French health care covers around 70% of the charges, there may be fees to pay that are not covered by the state. A mutuelle is an insurance policy that covers these costs.

For more information: fabfrenchinsurance.com

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Practical tips on keeping your home in France secure and in good condition when cold weather arrives. These tips will help you get your French property ready for winter.

What’s winter like in France?

There are many reasons to love winters in France. The crisp blue skies on a clear day, the hearty soups and delicious French meals such as pot–au-feu or raclette with family or friends… Or maybe an afternoon spent drinking a warming cup of hot chocolate by the fireside.

Winters in France however can be very cold. It’s a large country with significant variances in temperature. For example the average January temperature is 0°C in Strasbourg and 7°C in Nice. Temperatures can commonly fall to as low as -18°C, with the coldest period lasting from late January to early March. Mouthe in the Bourgogne-Franche-Comté region is officially the coldest place in France – recording a chilling Arctic rate of -41°C in 1985.

Making sure your French home is winter ready

Although in recent years winters have been relatively mild, due to increasing extremes in weather conditions, it makes sense to prepare for the worst.

Whether you have a second home in France or live here all-year round, there are several things that you can do before and during the winter to protect your property.

Many second homeowners take their last holidays of the year in France during late summer or the school half-term break in October. This is the perfect time to carry out a few key actions to make sure you weather the winter. There are also companies specialising in French property management – and often a friendly neighbour will be happy to help too!

Checklist to get your French property ready for winter

Ensure that your property is secure

Check that all windows, doors, shutters and locks are secured firmly and are in good condition.

Protect your property from water damage

Burst or frozen pipes are a common cause of problems during the winter due to freezing temperatures and unprotected pipework. A burst pipe can result in significant and costly damage and the amount of water escaping from a pipe can be as much as 400 litres an hour.

To reduce the risk, insulate outside pipes and taps with insulated foam or lagging and make sure that no bends, joints or taps are exposed. Don’t forget pipes buried in the ground or pipework in your property’s basement, loft and garage also need to be protected.

Drain your central heating system

Draining your central heating system is important if you leave the property empty for more than 3 days between November and April.

Set your thermostat to frost position

It is a good idea to set any thermostats on electric radiators to a ‘frost’ position (usually marked as a snowflake ). This means that the radiators will switch on during the coldest of nights providing some ambient heat and reducing the risk of damage from frozen pipes.

Turn off the stop cock

Your stop cock is the control tap for your mains water. If you’re leaving your property closed during the winter, close the mains water supply, running any water out of the taps before you do so.

Look after your loo

Bathrooms attract more moisture so are more prone to water damage. Switch off the water to the toilet at the supply stop and flush the toilet to drain all of the water.

Turn off any electrical appliances

Turn off all appliances such as fridges, fridge-freezers, televisions, audio-visual equipment etc.. Remember to leave the doors of fridges and fridge-freezers open to stop mould.

Check your roof guttering

There are practical things you can do outside the home too such as inspecting the roof of your house. A build-up of leaves and mud during the autumn can result in blockages, leading to leaky gutters and a risk of water damage so keep your gutters clear.

In the garden

If you have a water butt, in very cold weather the water can freeze so it might be a good idea to drain it over winter.

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Whether it’s French Home and Contents, Vehicle, Legal Protection or Top-Up Health insurance, this handy guide explains insurance cover in France.

French Home and Contents Cover

Protecting your property, whether it’s a secondary home, main home or rented out on a short term, holiday or long term basis, is vital for peace of mind and also includes something very important: Public liability cover.

What is Public liability cover?

Public liability cover is included in your Home and Contents insurance with many insurers. As a rule the cover is against a claim for damage caused by the policyholder to a third party or their property.

As mentioned above the level of cover varies according to the type of property being insured. For example the level of cover offered on a second home covers damage caused by the property to a third party. Cover for a main home extends to damages caused by the policyholder or a member of their family to a third party.

For a property you may be renting out for short holiday periods Public Liability would continue as long as those staying at the property were there no longer than 3 consecutive months. For a longer term the tenant would need to subscribe to their own Public Liability policy.

Levels of cover for insurance in France

When choosing the level of cover for your property make sure you have the basics included such as storm, hail, snow, fire and water damage to mention a few. You may then want to add other options depending on the use of your property. For instance swimming pool pack, garden furniture pack or gîte cover if you run this type of business. Don’t forget – if you do have a gîte, talk to your Mairie to make sure you are registered correctly. If not, even if you are insured for your gîte, you may find that a claim will not be possible.

Make sure you have measured all your rooms as well as outbuildings correctly when setting up your cover. In the event of a claim this information is essential for success.

If you build an extension or change the use of one of your rooms think about calling your insurer. Check that the changes are reflected in your policy.

French Vehicle Cover

If your residence in France is your main home the chances are you will have at least one car.  Whether you have a right hand drive car over or left-hand drive car, insurance is obligatory.

If your vehicle is on UK number plates, a visit to your nearest prefecture to find out the process of changing to French plates will be necessary. The process will vary in the amount of time it takes depending on the make, model, age and country of origin of your vehicle. During this process your vehicle needs to be insured. Some UK insurers, if you have just moved over to France, may allow the insurance to continue for a set amount of time. If not when taking out a French insurance policy make sure the insurer knows you are in the process of changing registration and make sure you know how long they will insure you for whilst you are still on your English plates.

If your residence in France is a holiday home and you have your car in the garage whilst back home in the UK, do not make the mistake of thinking if it’s locked away and not in use no insurance is needed.

For public liability purposes the car must remain insured. Therefore you might want to change the level of insurance so the minimum level of cover is still in place.

Car cover will be very similar in France to what is provided in the UK. You will find quite easily ‘Third Party only’, ‘Third Party Fire and Theft’ and ‘Fully Comp’ equivalents along with a range of extras and options that can be included.

Other options such as Homestart breakdown cover, glass damage and zero excess amongst others, can also be set up at the outset or during the life of the contract.

You may also have other types of vehicles at you property you wish to cover. Ride on lawn mowers, scooters, motorbikes and boats can all be catered for to keep all insurances under one roof.

Legal Protection Cover

If you are resident on a permanent basis in France, Legal Protection is an inexpensive insurance cover giving you access to a team of French legal experts in the event of private, consumer and labour disputes. When arriving in France you may not be completely at ease with the rights you do or you do not have. If you have a doubt you can obtain the advice and assistance you need.

Some Home and Contents policies may have limited Legal Protection cover included. However if you wish to have complete cover a stand-alone contract is the best option. If you are a UK resident, in some cases the cover can be taken out – however it will apply strictly to French litigation only.

Health cover in France

Holidays in France -Residing at your Secondary residence

It is very important to apply for an EHIC card before you leave for your holidays abroad whether travelling to France or another European country. The card will cover you up to 90 consecutive days for any medical treatment you may need when away. If you pay for any treatment you receive keep your receipts and proofs of treatment for your return home.  For more information, to apply for or renew an EHIC card consult the NHS website.

French Residents

Once resident in France you will need to contact your local Caisse Primaire d’Assurance Maladie (CPAM). They will advise if you will automatically be covered by the French social security system for a certain percentage of your medical costs.

If you are covered you will be provided an attestation and then a Carte Vitale. This needs to be presented at all medical appointments, hospitals and chemists. You may then wish to take out Top-Up Health insurance to cover the costs not reimbursed by the CPAM. Depending on your needs, age and budget you should research Top-Up cover to suit you.

If you find out you are not covered by the CPAM you may need 100% Private Health cover.

The Main Differences between French and UK Insurances

• Contents as well as the property itself are generally covered within one policy in France unlike the UK.
• Accidental damage is not covered in France. So, don’t spill that glass of red on your white sheepskin rug and expect that your House and Contents insurer covers it!
• Generally insurance cover in France is automatically renewed from one year to the next. If you like to shop around – don’t leave it until the last minute. Exceptions to the rule exist if applying the Loi Hamon or the Loi Chatel. Ask your insurance adviser for more details.
• Non-payment of a premium triggers the cancellation of your policy. You may well find it a struggle to find new insurance even if non-payment has been unintentional. You may also find yourself paying a higher premium in the future due to this mishap.

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The Assurance Vie is the most popular long term savings product in France. It offers a choice of investment funds, tax and inheritance advantages.

There are two types, those offered in France by French companies and normally only in Euros and those ore recently offshore in places such as Luxembourg and Dublin. The latter more often than not offer a choice of currency and a wider range of investment.

Fonds en Euros

There is one fund that traditionally has been popular in the past being based on deposit rate and bond yields. This is known as the ‘fonds en euros’ or ‘guaranteed fund in some cases. Currently it is also the only fund where CSG or ‘social charges’ are taken at source. However, as we are all aware, interest and bond yields have over the past few years reduced to almost zero. Indeed we had heady days of 5% in 2007 and more recently rates have been less than 2% and expected to fall further.

In the past a guaranteed rate would be declared at the beginning of the year and a bonus paid at the end of the year depending upon performance. However more and more fund managers have been placing funds into government bonds in order to meet their obligations. Some companies have actually withdrawn the guaranteed minimum rate so in the future these funds could produce a negative return. Companies have actually been using their reserves to prop up the funds and maintain stability.

Changes to Fonds en Euros 2017

However there has been further news: There are new reporting requirements on life assurers from the beginning of 2017. Now they will be obliged to provide to the state details of all policies with values above €7,500. This is allegedly for anti-money laundering purposes.

Insurers have been urged to lower the returns on these funds. As they haven’t gone far enough, the government have passed an amendment to Article 21A of the “SAPIN “law 2”. This has passed almost unnoticed in the media. It was presented just before the summer holidays in 2016. The ‘Constitutional Council’ will decide shortly whether this comes into effect.

The assumption is that it will be approved. The ‘Financial Stability Board’ will have the power to suspend, delay or limit temporarily for all or part of the portfolio the ability to make withdrawals or switch funds. Certainly the ‘fond en euros’ will come under the spotlight in this area. This maybe to ensure the financial stability of insurers going forward and most Assurance Vie providers offer a guarantee under European legislation for the first €70,000 of any Assurance Vie policy.

What to Do?

Certainly for our clients we have been systematically moving their funds out of the ‘fonds en euros’ and finding a similarly risk weighted fund. Certainly taking funds out of an Assurance Vie may create a tax charge.

Companies who offer ‘Assurance Vie’ policies outside of France don’t appear to be affected by this new French legislation. They also have multi currency options and a much broader choice of funds as well as an ability to alter tax jurisdictions with most European countries rather than having to close the investment. This type of policy still remains an attractive investment with huge tax and inheritance advantages.

Jennie Poate is a qualified advisor with Beacon Global Wealth Management: beaconglobalwealth.com

This communication is for informational  purposes only based on our understanding of current legislation and practices which is subject to change and is not intended to constitute, and should not be construed as, investment advice, investment recommendations or investment research. You should seek advice form a professional adviser before embarking on any financial planning activity. Whilst every effort has been made to ensure the information contained  in this communication is correct, we are not responsible for any errors or omissions.

Beacon Global Wealth Management are members of Nexus Global (IFA Network). Nexus Global EU is a division of Blacktower Financial Management (Cyprus) Limited (BFMCL) and Blacktower Insurance Agents & Advisors Ltd (BIAAL).  Beacon Global Wealth Management is an Appointed Representative of BFMCL which is licensed and regulated by the Cyprus Securities & Exchange Commission (CySEC) – Licence No. 386/20. Beacon Global Wealth Management is an Appointed Representative of BIAAL which is licensed and regulated by the Insurance Companies Control Service (ICCS) – Licence No. 5101

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Smoke Detector Law France

It is the owner’s responsibility to ensure this is done, so if you’re renting to someone, you need to make sure that a working, compliant smoke detector is installed.  The tenant takes responsibility for maintenance and repair. You might not be covered by insurance if a fire breaks out and you don’t have a detector.

To be compliant basically means your smoke detector must be loud enough to wake sleeping occupants and must continue to function if there is an electrical power outage e.g. it has to run on batteries.

Despite some claims, there is no legal requirement for the smoke detector to be fitted by an electrician and there is no requirement to have the device checked and approved. We’ve heard tales of people receiving visitors from “inspectors” who want to be paid to carry out a check – it’s a scam.

In the case of rented properties, the law says that a landlord is responsible for buying the smoke alarm, or should reimburse the cost of purchase to the tenant. Long-term tenants are responsible for the upkeep of alarms, including renewing batteries. For holiday or short-term rentals, this responsibility falls to the owners not to the holiday makers in the rented accommodation so make sure you, or your rental manager adds to the list of to-dos to conduct a regular precautionary check.

Householders may also wish to inform their insurers that a smoke alarm has been installed. A brief letter, stating your policy number and address, confirming that you have fitted a smoke alarm should be enough to ensure any claims for fire damage are dealt with relatively quickly and easily.  Ask the company to confirm receipt and that they accept the information or if they require more detail to let you know.

Any smoke detector fitted in a home in France must meet the following standards:

Alarms have to meet the EN 14604 European standard and carry the CE logo or the NF EN 14604 equivalent. It must display a power indicator and have a “test” button

The unit should be powered by batteries, with a minimum operating time of one year, or come with an AC-power cable

The unit must emit a visual or audible signal indicating low battery levels. The error signal must be different to the alarm signal

When smoke is detected, the unit must emit an audible alarm of at least 85dB audible at a distance of three metres

The following information must be indelibly marked on the unit: the brand name, address of the manufacturer or supplier number, date of the standard that the detector complies with, manufacturing date or batch number and type of battery to use

The unit should be supplied with instructions for installation, maintenance and control of the sensor and the model certificate that the occupant must provide an insurer in case of a claim for damage caused by fire.

Beware salesmen who call at the door claiming to be registered sellers of smoke detectors, there is no such thing as an “official” door to door sales man for these goods.

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How to cancel a French insurance policy for home or car insurance…

Terminating your French car or house insurance policy has meant a requirement to notify your French insurer in writing that you require to cancel at least two months before the end of the policy. The condition required the insured had to put their request in writing by mail, sent by registered post, not email and for many expats this not well-known and often not mentioned obligation has meant failure to comply. This means they have had to continue paying for a policy even if they don’t want to and, unaware of these rules, have taken out a second policy, meaning two insurance policies in play. In extreme circumstances we have even heard of people being blacklisted by French insurance companies even after they have paid up as punishment for non-compliance.

Additionally there was no obligation for insurers to notify consumers of their intent to renew or to send a reminder.

Up until now, if insurers increased premiums,  consumers, unless they had complied with the requirement to give notice, found themselves locked into expensive policies for another year.

However a new law dated 17 March 2014 and known as “Loi Hamon” means it should be easier to terminate a French insurance contract.

The French Public Service website states that the new law includes “the right to terminate the automobile property and liability insurance contracts at any time, at the end of the first contract year (the new insurer may terminate the contract instead of the subscriber)”…

The new law requires insurers to give notice that they will renew your policy – however you may find that this does not happen as some insurers appear to be unaware of the requirement or are not complying with it.

Under the new loi Hamon, consumers may terminate their insurance policy at any time after the first anniversary date of the contract, but they must provide evidence to their existing insurer that they have taken out a replacement policy with another insurer. You can ask your new insurer to supply a letter confirming that they are insuring you – or you can send your old insurer a copy of your new policy.

You must put your notice of cancellation in writing and send it by registered post, not email. The insurer will have 30 days from the end of receipt of the letter to cancel the policy.

Find out more from French Property News.

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You may be eligible to join the French national health service insurance scheme for expatriates called CMU (Couverture Maladie Universelle ). For the great majority this is certainly the cheapest form of healthcare in France. The system works by reimbursement of paid at point of treatment costs.

You will also eligible for state healthcare if you work in France or are self-employed in France.

Click here for a full and clear explanation of expat eligibility for the French national health service.

Most people in France take out a “top- up” or voluntary insurance

Being registered for the national heath service in France generally doesn’t mean free treatment though there are some circumstances where it is free such as those on a low income. Most people in France take out “top up” insurance, a sort of voluntary insurance.

What it means is that you will be reimbursed a percentage of the fees charged.

The level of reimbursement differs with the treatment, the practitioner and your circumstances.

A typical doctor’s visit will be reimbursed at about 70%. If you are eligible for low income assistance or the illness is deemed serious, or long-term, reimbursement will usually be at 100%. How much you get back varies, but if you want “full” cover then the option is to have top-up insurance.

Top-up insurance – called assurance complémentaire santé in France, is designed to cover “the rest”. By the rest, we mean reimbursement up to what the Government says a procedure should cost – not what it actually costs, which could be more than the Government recommendation.

Even with voluntary/top-up insurance you may still have to pay some costs depending on your policy, treatment and circumstances.

For instance all medical consultations carry a €1 surcharge that must be paid by the individual and legally cannot be covered by the insurer. You must register with a single primary care doctor (médecin traitant) in France to receive the full reimbursement available (read more about registering with a doctor here). Some insurance policies will not cover you if illness has arisen from drug or alcohol related accidents/illness or from issues arising from listed “dangerous sports”.  Some consultants are allowed to charge more than the Government “recommended” price for treatment, the insurer may not cover the whole cost above the “recommended” price.

It pays to discuss with your top-up insurance policy provider what level of cover you require/are willing to pay for.

Be aware that some companies have a qualification period (délais de carence) ranging from a few months to a year meaning that you may have a reduced level of cover – or no level of cover until the period of delay expires – though you will still be paying premiums.

Assistance with top up insurance costs is available to those with a low household income – you can get advice from CPAM (Caisse Primaire d’Assurance Maladie), the local office network which administers state healthcare or for those who are self-employed from the regional RSI “Regime Social des Indépendants” office.

How to source the best “Top-up” insurance for you

The different levels of top up insurance

The post What is Top-up Insurance in France? appeared first on The Good Life France.

Voluntary health insurance in France or as it is often called “top-up” is an insurance policy which goes towards the cover of healthcare costs for residents registered for state healthcare.

In order to apply for top-up insurance, first you must register with the State health service.

For British expats who are covered by a UK health service S1 form this means via the CMU (Couverture maladie universelle) a branch of the state health service.

Read here for more info about CMU, how to join the CMU an eligibility for expats.

Employees will have their state health service registration taken care of by their employer.

If you are self-employed, your health service registration will take place as part of the process of your business registration.

Once registered with your local Caisse Primaire dAssurance Maladie (CPAM) office – they administer the CMU, you are free to take out top-up (voluntary) health insurance.

There is a huge choice of top-up insurance providers in France and it can be quite daunting to search for one that is right for you. There are more than a 1000 companies in France – private companies or mutual non-profit organisations, including some companies with English language services.

Non-profit mutual organisations may sound as though they should be cheaper, after all they are “non-profit” but this isn’t necessarily the case – however they are more accepting of pre-existing medical conditions and do not require a medical questionnaire. Private insurance companies will almost certainly require a medical questionnaire and may not accept some conditions or increase premiums because of a known health issue.

In France the voluntary (“top-up”) insurance is called “assurance complémentaire”. If you are looking for provision from a French company you need to search online or through the telephone directory for Assurance or Assurance complémentaire.

There are also brokers who may be able to help you search for the appropriate insurance vehicle.

You can search online and complete an online questionnaire with most insurance providers to get an idea of costs; comparison sites like Assurland or Empruntis may be helpful – though you will need to be able to complete the forms in French.

The choice of a top-up insurance policy is important.

Most contracts are based on a percentage of the social security tariffs – called Tarif de Convention. The price you pay depends on the percentage level you choose. If a contract offers 100% – this means 100% reimbursement of the official rate.  However, the charges that doctors or consultants apply may be higher than the official rate and some contracts therefore offer 200% or more reimbursement.

Standard doctors’ visits and medicine costs are usually well covered by the normal 100% cover but specialist treatment and hospitalisation could leave a gap.

There is a list of 30 serious diseases and illnesses where costs are reimbursed by the state at 100% including cancer, heart disease, insulin dependent diabetes or long duration diseases like a stroke or where hospitalisation exceeds 30 days.

Outside of these circumstances, the state reimburses 80% of hospitalisation costs, a “top-up” insurance policy will cover more but may not cover all costs – it depends on the level of “top-up”.

Sounds complicated? Well, yes it is and it pays to do your research or to speak to someone with experience before you come to France so that everything is sorted out and ready to use straight away.

More on the different levels of “Top-up Insurance“

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“Top-up/Voluntary insurance in France is an insurance policy which provides for reimbursement of medical costs in addition to the State insurance fund. How much additional reimbursement you get depends on what level of cover you pay for.

Finding the right voluntary (called “top-up”) insurance provider isn’t that easy in France. There is such a wide choice between providers that it is hard to make comparisons but the main criteria for cost is your age and the level of cover you require.

When it comes to choosing the right health insurer for your “top-up” or voluntary insurance,  you need to bear in mind a few questions – none, one or more may be relevant to you:

Your age

If you are over 60, some private insurance companies (and some non-profit mutual companies – called mutuelles) will not accept you.  If you’re over 65 the number of companies who will not accept you increases. So if this applies to you the first search criteria is to seek a company who will accept you as a client and have a tailored policy for over 60s/over 65s.

Comprehension

if you are not fluent in French and can’t fully understand what you are signing up to you might want to consider a company with an English speaking helpline.

Your health

If you are aware of a pre-existing medical condition then a non-profit mutual company is probably going to be more suitable for you than a private health insurance company. The former will not require you to complete a medical questionnaire, the latter will and may exclude you on the grounds of a pre-existing medical condition.

Mutuelles do not consider your health circumstances when considering your application – private insurers may do so and may also exclude cover for certain illnesses contracted before the insurance was taken out.  Therefore the amount you pay through a Mutuelle will not be affected by your health but premiums charged by private health insurer could be higher or result in rejection of your application.

Level of Cover

The amount you pay will depend on the level of cover you want from 1 to 5. This will differentiate reimbursement costs according to what treatment you may have including consultants, specialist treatment, dentistry etc.

Level 5 isn’t necessarily the best value and also means you are highly likely to have to submit to a medical examination.

To give you an idea of costs:

UK Expat, aged 60, unemployed, registered for national health service care in France might expect to pay about €30 per month for level 1 cover. The same person might expect to pay €100 p.m. for level 5 cover.

UK Expat, age 65, retired (and receiving state pension), registered for national health service care in France might expect to pay about €35 per month for level 1 cover.  The same person might expect to pay €112 p.m. for level 5 cover.

You can also purchase temporary insurance cover for the time between arriving in France and registering in France – but this is generally an expensive option so, if you are eligible for state health care, don’t delay getting registered, make it a priority.

Premiums are calculated and charged pro-rata from the date of issue to 31st December and thereafter renewed on 1st January in each following year as French law requires policies to be issued on a calendar year basis.  Where you take out a policy for the first time, a deposit is payable followed by monthly payments terminating at the end of the Calendar year. The Policy renewal process then kicks in on a Calendar year basis. Additionally there is a tax charged on the provision of voluntary insurance.

If you want to change insurers in France, you must notify your current insurer of termination in writing at least a month before the policy comes up for renewal.

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