Health insurance

French minister denies plans for income-linked healthcare

The economy minister said comments that well-off people would need to ‘contribute more’ had been misreported

New way to check if your French top-up health insurance cost is fair

French consumer group launches comparator based on profile saying it should be easier for people to compare plans and save money

France residents in better health than other countries, study shows

The report found that France has particularly improved on life expectancy since 1990

Reimbursement rules for Covid tests in France change from March 1

The full cost of tests is now only covered by the social security system for certain groups – but cover is now better for those who have not been vaccinated

Online health account in France: six useful things you can do

The improved Compte Ameli space has several helpful features, including the ability to order important health documents

Explainer: the CSS, France’s free or low cost top-up health insurance

Most people in France choose to ‘top up’ their healthcare cover through a private insurance provider but a system called complémentaire santé solidaire pays for this in some cases

UK retirees in France report problems getting travel health insurance

Some pensioners with a UK Ehic card and S1 form tell us they found it ‘impossible’ to find holiday health cover

Low income but refused free French top-up health insurance? Next steps

We explain why you may no longer get the complémentaire santé solidaire (CSS) benefit and how to appeal

Travel and health coverage: How do I get French equivalent of Ehic?

We look into the carte européenne d'assurance maladie , who is eligible, how you can get one and how it works

Tips on how to choose a top-up health insurance policy in France

Top-up insurance can add cover to existing healthcare and help you avoid unexpected bills. Here are some things to look out for

Group buys: ways to reduce home and health insurance bills in France

Many local authorities have begun offering group contracts at lower prices to certain people within their remit, such as the over-60s

Could you save money with your French commune's health insurance?

The ‘mutuelle communales’ are group top-up policies for a town - 2000 communes offer them

Will French healthcare cover medical costs for a holiday to America?

Medical costs in the US can be extremely high so it is wise to check this out

Transplant patient fighting for France to pay €1m US hospital bill

The 34-year-old says she received a transplant abroad only after exhausting every option in France

Post-Brexit travel healthcare: What is a UK ‘CRA’ Ehic card?

The UK now issues two kinds of travel health card - Ghics, or Ehics with lettering saying ‘CRA’ standing for Citizens Rights Agreement. We clarify the difference

What health insurance do I need for a long-stay French visitor visa?

People applying for such visas need to show proof that they can cover any medical costs which arise while they are in the country

Top-ups, eye tests, online: Eight healthcare changes in France in 2022

Several changes in healthcare are already announced for 2022. We summarise eight key points

Can I enter French healthcare system with long-term illness?

There are no limitations linked to long-term conditions for entry to the French healthcare system

What no Ehic will mean for British home owners in France

British residents with second homes in France may have to look to private health insurance options if the UK and EU do not reach an agreement on the bloc’s health card.

Six-month visas for Britons to stay in France: Healthcare requirements

British second-home owners and other visitors wanting to come to France for more than three months now need a visa. Healthcare cover is part of the paperwork checked

Top-up health insurance prices to rise in France, warns federation

Mutuelles could increase by 7 to 10% in 2022 due to higher healthcare prices and an increasingly ageing population

France to charge foreign tourists for Covid-19 tests from tomorrow

From July 7, it will cost tourists €49 for a PCR test and €29 for a rapid antigen test

How to get a Covid vaccine QR code in France - and why you may need it

They will be used to as part of the EU-wide Covid travel passes and to facilitate access to large indoor events in France

What is changing in France in December 2020?

This month it will become much easier to change health insurers, gas prices are going up, and there are some important financial deadlines.

New €18 set fee to visit A&E in France

From September 2021, anyone visiting A&E in France for whatever reason will have to pay a fixed sum of €18

Britons in France can now get post-Brexit Ehic cover

British state pensioners and others who have a registered S1, E121, E106 or E109 can apply now for a new UK European Health Insurance Card

Macron expected to announce new Covid restrictions tonight

New Covid-19 restrictions are being discussed by the Conseil de défense this morning, with a four-week national lockdown possible

Is your French Top Up health insurance up for renewal?

Sponsored article: Prior to your health insurance contract in France renewing for a further year always take the time to compare prices and to look for better cover. Lawrence and Melanie, from Swiss Life agency, Bordeaux, explain...

UK tourists will not have valid health insurance in France

Anyone living in the UK planning to go on holiday to France from tomorrow - including people visiting second homes - will no longer be covered by private health or travel insurance unless separately negotiated, in line with the latest UK government advice on travel.

Moving forward from Covid-19: info on tourism, masks & more

Learn how France is moving forward from the Coronavirus outbreak, plus news on insurance issues, tourism, masks and more.

Covid-19: Free health check for vulnerable patients

€46 cost of 'assessment and vigilance' consultation will be covered by French health insurance system

Branded medicines only reimbursed at price of generic

Patients who refuse generic versions of their medication where one exists are now reimbursed less under new rules aimed at saving the state €100 million per year.

Can I keep French Carte Vitale if I move?

Can I keep my Carte Vitale after moving to the UK if I rent out a French house? H.S.

Branded medicines now only reimbursed at generic price

Patients in France who refuse generic versions of their medication will now be reimbursed less, under new rules that came into force on January 1, which are expected to save the State €100 million per year.

Good news on glasses, crowns and hearing aids

.... But you should still shop around for the right cover

Ehic times don’t match

UK ‘should act now on pension uprating’

Uprating the state pensions of Britons living in France for life – and not just three years – in a no-deal Brexit is in the gift of the UK government and should be guaranteed now, a Tory MP has told the British prime minister.

Anomaly over French health cover

Homeopathy: French MPs oppose reimbursement decision

A group of 45 French MPs have written an open letter in favour of homeopathy and in opposition to the government’s decision this month to end all State reimbursement of the medicine by 2021.

Homeopathy no longer reimbursed in France from 2021

Homeopathic medicine will no longer be reimbursed by the French State from January 1 2021, the health minister has confirmed, after months of national debate on the issue.

Is cancer care free with Ehic or S1?

I have been diagnosed with cancer and am hoping soon to move to France. Can I access free chemotherapy with my Ehic/S1? M.H.

Macron still faces a battle to fund his ageing nation

The problem of an ageing population and how to fund pensions and dependency care that has bedevilled previous governments has now landed in President Macron’s lap.

French pro-homeopathy campaign launches after backlash

Pro-homeopathy groups in France are mounting a defence of their products, as medical authorities debate whether the medicine should be reimbursed and some health professionals condemn the drugs.

Steep rises for health ‘top-ups’

Top-up health insurance prices have been rising sharply this year, with some up by 5-9% – and even 34% in one case, according to consumer group UFC-Que Choisir.

Zero to pay for glasses

People needing glasses will be able to get a free pair from January 2020 with costs fully covered by state healthcare and their mutuelle insurance.

French GPs call for stop to homeopathy reimbursement

Doctors in France have called for homeopathic medicine to no longer be reimbursed by the state, calling homeopathy an “esoteric practice” that cannot be justified.