Best Travel Insurance For France

Do you intend to visit Paris? Don’t forget to check France travel insurance off your to-do list.

Yes, purchasing travel insurance right before your trip to France can be depressing, because who wants to think about all that could go wrong? But you can never be too prepared, and if you’re looking for a Schengen visa, having France travel insurance is essential!

Do I Need Travel Insurance for France?

Anyone wishing to apply for a Schengen visa to visit France must have travel insurance. Without it, your visa application will be denied. Get a free quotation for French Schengen visa insurance here.

On the other hand, if you do not need a Schengen visa to enter France, travel insurance is not required.

However, this does not imply you should not purchase it. In reality, it is always a good idea to purchase travel insurance for vacations abroad, regardless of visa restrictions or how much it dampens your joy. MondialCare and EuropAssistance provide affordable health insurance coverage for travelers visiting France.

France Travel Insurance Requirements

Seeing that France is part of the Schengen Area, any travel insurance you get for your trip to France should be Schengen compliant. As such, it must meet the following requirements:

• Cover at least €30,000 for emergency medical costs and repatriation
• Be valid in the entire Schengen Area

How to Get Travel Insurance for France?

You can get travel insurance for France entirely online. Here are your options:

• Travel insurance brokers. They offer a multitude of plans from different travel insurance providers which you can compare side-by-side before purchasing, so you are not limited to only one insurance company. Get a free quote now.
• Directly from a company. There are insurance companies everywhere. Many of them operate online but there are probably several in your country as well. You can simply visit their website or visit a local travel insurance office and get an insurance policy. In these cases, you are slightly more limited to one or two plans which the company offers.
• From your travel agency or airline. If you are going to France on an organized tour, then your travel agency may offer a plan along with the tour. Many airlines also offer travel insurance plans. Before settling in one, make sure you have the adequate coverage you need. You should also remember that travel insurance plans that tour agencies or airlines offer have hidden fees and are usually a tad over-priced.

What Does France Travel Insurance Cover?

Schengen travel insurance for France often focuses on health coverage. However, many policies also cover trip-related issues, such as flight delays or trip cancellations. Here’s an outline of the coverage you may expect from a France travel insurance policy:

• Emergency medical treatment. If you get suddenly ill from a condition you did not have before or if you get into an accident, travel
• insurance covers things like:
• Doctor visits
• Prescription medication
• Surgery
• Hospitalization
• X-rays and lab tests
• Medical evacuation. If you get severely ill and have to be flown back to your home country for treatment.
  This covers the cost of returning the body home if the traveller happens to pass away while in France.
• Trip disruption*. If your trip is cancelled or you have to leave France earlier than expected, travel insurance reimburses your costs to a certain amount.
• Loss of belongings.* If your baggage is damaged, stolen or lost during your trip to France, travel insurance reimburses your loss to a certain amount, and usually for certain items.
• Personal liability.* If you cause damage to someone or to someone’s property while in France, travel insurance covers the resulting costs.

These covered items are not required by the Schengen/France rules. This is why not all Schengen plans offer them.

What Does France Travel Insurance Not Cover?

These are usually excluded from most travel insurance plans for France:

• Medical treatment because of a pre-existing condition.
• Medical treatment as a result of intoxication (alcohol, drugs).
• Non-emergency medical treatment.
• Medical treatment as a result of “high risk” or adventurous sports, such as parachuting, bungee jumping, motor racing, etc.

How to Choose the Best Travel Insurance Policy for France?

To choose the best insurance policy for your trip to France, ask yourself these questions:

• Does it comply with Schengen visa insurance rules? This is especially important if you are applying for a visa.
• Am I satisfied with this coverage? Check whether it covers the minimum €30,000 and what medical treatment is covered under the policy.
• Is the company trustworthy? Check whether you are buying from a reputable company.

How Much Does France Travel Insurance Cost?

Travel insurance for France is usually a very small fraction of the overall cost of the trip. Depending on which plan you choose (and your age), a travel insurance policy for a one-week trip to France can be from $10 to $50. Here are some of the factors that affect the cost of the policy:

• Duration of the trip. The longer your trip to France is, the more the policy will cost.
  The older you are, the more you likely have to pay for travel insurance. Some companies even stop covering after a certain age, such as 80.
• Amount of coverage. A plan with maximum coverage of $50,000 will be less expensive than a policy with $100,000 coverage.
• The deductible. This is the amount of money you pay yourself before the insurance company takes over. The higher the deductible, the lower the cost of the policy and vice-versa.

Can I Use France Travel Insurance In Other Schengen Countries?

Yes, if you purchase Schengen travel insurance for your vacation to France, you can travel to other Schengen Zone countries and be protected for any medical emergencies.

Can I Use France Travel Insurance In Non-Schengen Countries?

If you get Schengen travel insurance, you will often be protected just in the Schengen Zone nations. Some insurance policies may also cover EU nations that are not part of Schengen, such as Romania, Croatia, Cyprus, and Ireland.

For How Long Does Travel Insurance for France Cover Me?

Travel insurance covers the entire duration of your trip to France, from the moment you depart until the moment you return home. When buying an insurance policy, you have to state the dates between which you will travel.

Can I Get Annual Travel Insurance for France?

Yes, many companies offer annual, multi-trip travel insurance policies for the Schengen Zone. This type of travel insurance is beneficial if you frequently travel to France or elsewhere in the Schengen Area.

If you intend to actually live in France, then you need international health insurance, not travel insurance.

International Health Insurance for France

If you are moving to France for work, studying, or joining your spouse, then you will need an international health insurance policy, also referred to as expat insurance. International insurance works in much the same way as a health insurance policy you may have in your country, but it is intended to protect you internationally.

The main difference between international and travel health insurance is that:

• An international health insurance policy in France will cover you for non-emergency medical treatment as well, including regular checkups, pre-existing conditions and maternity.
• A travel insurance policy will only cover medical treatment which is a result of emergencies or accidents.

Is Healthcare in France Expensive for Tourists?

For any minor injuries or illnesses you may have while in France, such as a cold or food poisoning, simply go to a local drugstore or see a doctor. In these small cases, the medical visit will not be expensive; the fee for a consultation is approximately $25 if you visit a “approved” doctor (one who has signed up and agrees to the Social Security rates). Non-approved or non-contracted doctors have their own prices, which may be higher but cannot exceed €70.

So, assuming the payments aren’t too expensive, why bother getting travel insurance for your vacation to France when you have no idea if you’ll get sick?

Because if you require urgent medical attention while in France, such as a serious surgery, the hospitalization bills can quickly become too exorbitant to pay for yourself. This is why it is important to have proper travel insurance coverage.

France Healthcare System

The French healthcare system is among the greatest in the world. It is a universal healthcare system supported by monthly payments made by employees through salary deductions, employers, and the self-employed.

In turn, when they require medical attention, 70% of their medical expenditure is covered. Costs are fully covered for long-term or serious illnesses such as heart disease, cancer, or diabetes, as well as for low-income individuals.

In addition to public health insurance, many French people also have private health insurance, which provides coverage in private facilities.

Can I Use My EHIC Instead of Travel Insurance in France?

If you are a citizen of an EU country, you can use your European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) to receive medical care in French public hospitals. You will be viewed in the same regard as French nationals. This does not entitle you to free healthcare; if a French citizen needs to pay for a service, so must you. On that mind, an EHIC is not a full replacement for travel insurance. With an EHIC, you are not insured for evacuation or repatriation, nor for treatment in a private hospital.

An EHIC can only be used if you have a medical emergency or become suddenly unwell in France, regardless of whether you have a pre-existing medical condition. You cannot use the Card if you traveled to France specifically for medical treatment.