How does health insurance work in France for foreigners?

Health insurance for foreigners in France works differently depending on how long you plan to stay, your residency rights and also where you are coming from. 

Visits of up to three months are generally covered by either a Ghic/Ehic card or private health insurance. 

If you plan to stay beyond this or move to France long term, you may need to register with Puma, the French health insurance system, or ensure you have a private health insurance policy in place.

UK and EU/EEA visitors staying up to three months

Foreign visitors to France from the UK and EU/EEA countries can use an Ehic/Ghic card to access healthcare for temporary stays of up to three months. 

If you are in this category and the owner of a second home in France, you can also use your Ehic/Ghic for health cover when you visit.

It is still recommended to buy complimentary travel health insurance in order to cover charges not reimbursed by the Ehic/Ghic card as well as rescue and repatriation costs..

Health insurance in France for non-EU/EEA visitors

You should check whether your country has a reciprocal healthcare arrangement with France if you are coming from outside the EU/EEA for a short stay. 

Normally, a private health insurance policy will be needed to cover your healthcare costs.

Staying in France on a visa

For stays in France longer than 90 days (though also for shorter visits by citizens of some countries), a visa will be needed. 

To complete the application process, proof of healthcare cover is required so you will need to take out private health insurance to cover your stay.

If you are British, you can however use your Ehic/Ghic card for healthcare cover if you have a temporary long stay visa.

Health insurance changes if you move to France from the UK

If you are planning to move to France from the UK you will first need to apply for a visa before arrival and can later apply for residency. 

Again you will have to show evidence of private healthcare insurance in order to obtain a visa.

As an early retiree (someone who is below state retirement age but not working), you will also need to buy a private healthcare insurance policy that covers your visa period (usually one year). 

After three months of stable residence in France, you can then apply to join Puma, the state health insurance scheme.

EU or British state pensioners moving to France

As an EU or British state pensioner coming to live in France, you fall into a separate category and have the right to an S1 form for your healthcare cover. 

This means the home country which pays your pension will also cover your healthcare costs. 

Once you arrive in France, you can then apply to join Puma and will be covered by the state health insurance scheme.

Moving from other EU/EEA countries to France

For citizens from an EU/EEA country, when you first move to France you can continue to use your Ehic card to cover healthcare costs initially. 

After three months of stable residence here you will then be able to apply to join Puma, which will reimburse you for part of your healthcare costs.

If you are coming to live in France from the rest of the world then you will also first need to apply for a visa before residency. 

Proof of comprehensive health insurance covering the duration of your stay will be needed for the visa application. 

As above, you can apply to join Puma when you reach three months of stable residency.

Working or starting a business in France 

For foreigners coming to work as a legally authorised, salaried employee in France, you will be entitled to cover from the state health insurance scheme as soon as you are employed and paying social security contributions. 

In this case, you should not need to take out a private healthcare insurance policy as well.

If you intend to become self-employed or start a business then you will also become part of the state health insurance scheme once your business is fully registered here. 

As with employees, social charges will be paid from income earned, some of which pays towards your healthcare costs.

Not all health insurance costs are covered by the state

In most cases, the French health insurance system does not fully cover the cost of all healthcare expenses whether you are a foreigner or resident. 

It can be worth buying either a travel or private health insurance policy for temporary stays in France or a mutuelle top-up health insurance policy for residents.