Private health insurance

You will need to take out private health insurance if you are not eligible for French state health insurance or you cannot continue to be covered by the health insurance system in your home country.

Taking out private health insurance

You can choose to take out private health insurance in your country before you arrive, or on arrival in France.

In your country

Obtain full details of the medical costs that are covered from the insurance provider you have chosen (consultations, medicines, hospitalization, emergencies, etc.), and don’t forget to carry a health insurance certificate with you at all times.

In France

If you choose this solution, it is advisable to take out travel insurance to cover you initially while you look for health insurance in France.

If you are a student, you can get information from student insurance providers (“mutuelles étudiantes”), which have special offers for international students.

If you are a doctoral student or researcher, you also have the option of taking out a policy with the partner insurance provider of the Euraxess network by registering on the international researcher support database.
> Find out more about the partner insurance provider Access Fnak
> Register on the international researcher support database
 
Good to know
If you are not entitled to French state health insurance because you are in an irregular situation (you do not have a valid residence permit) and in situation of precariousness (you have few if any financial resources), ask the local CPAM (health insurance organization) whether you are eligible for State Medical Assistance (AME - “Aide médicale d’état”).
> Find out more about "AME"
> Contact details for the local CPAM office (be careful to select the right “département”: Isère if you live in Grenoble, or Drôme if you live in Valence)

Cost of private health insurance

The rates proposed by insurance providers vary significantly, and you may sometimes be required to fill in a medical questionnaire before a policy can be taken out in France.
Take the time to compare offers to choose the best one for you.
Published on  January 7, 2021
Updated on February 7, 2022