Frequently asked questions

No, insurance premiums are the same or lower, never higher. For certain policies, careXpat has negotiated preferential premiums for its policyholders thanks to the volume of business and trust built with the insurer. In addition, careXpat lets you review your top-up health cover at any time, so you benefit from the best health insurance for your profile, household composition and country of expatriation.

Depending on the insurer and the medical situation, the insurance contract may take effect immediately after validation or within 24 working hours if the medical questionnaire is clear: if the questionnaire contains medical history, the insurer’s medical officer may take up to 5 working days to validate your contract and may ask you further questions to better understand your history and adjust your premium.

All health insurance policies selected by careXpat include a teleconsultation service with French doctors available 24/7, accessible through your smartphone app for medical opinions, advice or prescriptions abroad.

Yes, my expatriate health insurance covers me in all countries included in the pricing zone of my country of expatriation, and only for accidents and illnesses requiring emergency treatment in other zones abroad.

After 90 days, a French person abroad loses or no longer has Social Security rights, except in the case of employees posted abroad by their French company, who retain their Social Security rights for the full duration of their assignment abroad.

The insurers’ medical experts analyse your file (illness, treatments, care, etc.) and may recommend accepting the contract, excluding the declared condition, increasing the health insurance premium or, in rare cases, refusing membership.

Yes, your contract includes waiting periods for certain benefits such as maternity (10-month waiting period), dental cover (3-month waiting period for care and 6 months for prostheses), optical cover (6-month waiting period) and psychiatry (12-month waiting period).

Never in the event of hospitalisation abroad (you must request direct settlement from the claims service via the app, online or by phone. This request must be made before the hospitalisation if it is scheduled, or immediately if it is an emergency). For routine care (GP consultations, pharmacy, etc.), you will have to pay the costs up front and submit the invoices via the app for reimbursement within a maximum of 5 days (in the USA, some insurers have care networks that exempt you from paying health costs up front).

Yes, you have priority access to doctors via 24/7 French-language teleconsultation; consultations and hospital care in the event of symptoms linked to coronavirus are covered by your insurance contract. PCR tests are covered or reimbursed by most health insurers only in the event of symptoms related to Covid-19.

The main difference between travel health insurance and expatriate health insurance lies in the length of your stay abroad. Travel insurance covers you in the country for stays of less than 12 months in the form of a package of benefits (health, repatriation, personal liability, luggage, etc.), whereas expatriate insurance covers you for periods of more than 12 months with modular benefits that can be adapted to your needs (accident, repatriation, illness, assistance, etc.).

French social security makes an allowance for care received abroad during stays of less than 90 days. However, reimbursements take a long time and are limited to the French social security reimbursement basis. Top-up health insurance only contributes if social security agrees to reimburse the care received abroad, and within the limits of the table of benefits. This does not always cover the actual costs incurred.

careXpat is one of the leading providers of health cover for expatriates living in France, Europe, Canada, the United States, Luxembourg, Vietnam, Hong Kong, Japan, Liechtenstein, Cuba and the rest of the world. We also offer top-up plans for the CFE (Caisse des Français de l'Étranger), which provides basic health cover for expatriates living abroad. Alongside CFE cover, we offer additional health insurance options tailored to each client's needs. These can include hospital expenses and medical, dental, maternity or optical care abroad. With careXpat, you can be confident of access to quality healthcare wherever you are in the world!

You can indeed choose international health insurance that covers you abroad, including in the USA. The insurers selected by careXpat offer levels of cover at least equivalent to, and often higher than, locally available policies. These health plans also cover you abroad, including in France during temporary return visits. For more information about OBAMACARE, read the article on the careXpat blog by clicking here.

You can cancel your current health insurance policy on its main renewal date. Under the law of 01/12/2020 introducing cancellation during the policy year, members of a mutual health scheme or top-up health insurance policy with a French insurer may cancel at any time without fees or penalties after one year of membership, with 30 days' notice.

Most bank cards (VISA, Mastercard) offer insurance and assistance benefits to help in an emergency abroad. However, this cover is very limited: it is only valid for stays of less than 90 days (three months) and trips paid for with that card. Reimbursement limits are also often insufficient to cover medical expenses in countries where healthcare is very expensive. Bank card insurance provides advances for medical expenses that must be repaid within 90 days, after contributions from social security and your top-up health insurance, which will often be insufficient to avoid out-of-pocket costs.

Going abroad can be a wonderful experience, but it also involves risks. Expatriate health insurance is one of the most important things to consider to ensure you are covered in a medical emergency. Taking out this type of insurance is important because it provides cover for your medical expenses wherever you are in the world. Healthcare costs abroad are very often higher than in France and can be extremely high, so expatriate health insurance, either first-euro cover or a CFE top-up, is recommended for anyone planning to move abroad. Health insurance for French nationals abroad offers benefits such as access to quality healthcare and protection in the event of an accident or illness. With expat health insurance, you can be confident of access to the best possible medical care and support when abroad. The policies offered by careXpat take account of overseas rates, particularly in your country of expatriation, to provide the best cover for local care.

careXpat is available to all French nationals abroad holding a French passport, regardless of their status or any dual nationality. It offers French health insurance policies in your country of expatriation and, where applicable, for short stays in France.

Moving to the United States from another country can be exciting, but it also brings many challenges. One is finding the right health insurance plan for your needs and budget. If you are moving from France to the United States, you may wonder whether you can take out French health insurance. The answer is yes: several options are available to people wishing to retain French health insurance while living in the United States. French health insurance offers a range of benefits to people living in the United States, with access to services not available through local health insurance. From preventive care to dental treatment, you can obtain the cover you need without out-of-pocket expenses through first-euro insurance (no co-payments, out-of-pocket costs or deductibles) or CFE top-up cover. French health insurance plans also often have lower premiums than American plans, making them an attractive option for cover that meets your needs. careXpat and its experts have particular expertise in the USA.

Unlike most local insurance policies, international health insurance covers you throughout your expatriation, anywhere in the world, including France during temporary return visits. It also gives you freedom to choose healthcare professionals, without requiring you to consult doctors in a specific network or use your host country's public system. Telephone and email exchanges with the insurer's teams take place in French, making it much easier to discuss expatriates' health and illness-related concerns.