Introduction to expat healthcare in France by an independent health insurance professional.
If you’re moving to France from a country where free healthcare is almost guaranteed – as in the UK – France’s contributory system can seem confusing.
France has one of the most pioneering and developed healthcare systems in the world, consistently emerging at a higher level than many other countries when rated by national health agencies.
When you move to France, your circumstances dictate if your healthcare costs are covered. And certainly for British expats, the situation has become more complicated since Brexit.
If you move to France from a non-EU country on a long-term visa, you will need private medical insurance until you get your residency card and acceptance into the healthcare system. At that point you become eligible for state healthcare, which is generally excellent, but not entirely free. Even French nationals must contribute to their healthcare, and a top up form of insurance to make up a potential short fall in costs versus cover is common.
Note – you can apply to be covered by the French healthcare system (Protection Universelle Maladie or ‘PUMa’) if you’ve been legally resident in France for at least 3 months. You’ll have access to state healthcare on the same basis as a French citizen. And British expats may be covered through an S1 form.
For those UK expats who do not qualify for the above schemes or documentation, it is strongly recommended to take out a personal health insurance policy in order to have access to healthcare (note you will also find that this is a requirement of applying for a visa).
Once you have your residency card and healthcare application accepted, you may need to consider a ‘top up’ insurance called a mutuelle. Since French healthcare requires you to make a contribution (not children), to healthcare costs, this is a common practice. There are a wide variety of policies available from leading providers internationally. Budget policies often don’t cover anything outside of hospital, however more comprehensive cover will include outpatient cover.
