Does French mutuelle insurance provide cover when abroad?
Healthcare travel cards cover only essential medical costs
In France top-up mutuelle insurance is largely aimed at covering remaining costs after state reimbursements
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Reader Question: My wife and I have a holiday flat in Spain, but live permanently in France. We have top-up mutuelle insurance to cover us in France alongside healthcare via an S1, does this cover us outside of France? We also have a British Ehic card.
You mention having a UK Ehic (European Health Insurance Card), which provides people with cover in other European countries outside of the UK and France.
This should cover essential healthcare needs in Spain, providing you the same level of urgent medical care as a Spanish citizen, and at the same cost.
In Spain, the health service typically covers all doctors appointments and hospitalisations that are medically necessary, on presentation of your Ehic card (this is the case if using the French national health service, but not necessarily if you use private medical services).
However, the card is only for essential healthcare needs arising during your stay.
Readers can find out more about the cards in our article below.
Read more: Ceam or Ghic: Which health card is right for Britons in France?
It is strongly recommended people travelling in Europe have a French Ceam card or one of its British equivalents.
Some policies are flexible
In Spain, as a result of the way its health system works, you are not so likely to have out-of-pocket medical expenses.
This will not be the case in all countries in the EU.
Where you do have out-of-pocket costs, the Ehic system allows you to recoup them up to the same level as nationals of the country. This is generally done by applying to the state refund system in the country. You should keep documentary evidence of what you paid for.
Top-up mutuelle insurance is largely aimed at covering remaining costs after state reimbursements in France.
As you have an S1, we assume you are retired, so your mutuelle is one you pay for yourself and is not provided as an employee.
Not all mutuelles are set up to refund payments made for healthcare abroad, though some do include top-up cover for short trips.
If necessary, you could consider changing to a different insurer or policy in future, if another is more suitable.
Check your existing policy to see if it provides cover for certain expenses abroad and, if it does not, discuss the issue with your insurer if you plan to visit countries where you may have out-of-pocket costs. You should also check if the refund policy may be different because your Ehic is provided by the UK as opposed to being the French equivalent (Ceam).
It may be possible to add a general traveller’s option, or because you frequently visit the same country, to add extra coverage when there. Make sure to fully read and understand any additional agreements you sign up to and if there are further charges.
When travelling, it is also generally advisable to have a travel insurance policy that covers elements not covered by the Ehic, such as mountain or sea rescue or medical repatriation expenses. Some travel insurance policies also include medical cover for necessary healthcare costs not covered by the Ehic.
Read more: New way to check if your French top-up health insurance cost is fair
