Insurance

‘Assurance vie’ firm in debt, 30,000 contracts in France at risk

The company was granted one month to submit a ‘realistic short-term financing plan’ in a bid to save policyholders’ frozen assets

300 French communes declared disaster zones for floods and drought

The declaration means catastrophe naturelle insurance funds can be unlocked

Mayor sues state over cracks in houses in south-west France

Cracks appeared in 302 houses in small town in Dordogne after droughts but no catastrophe naturelle decree was announced for the commune

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Water damage to homes: Which areas of France suffer most?

We also look at the recommended steps to take to protect your property

How much should you pay for house insurance where you live in France?

We look at average prices around the regions of France and the main cities

Phone scams, gardening, insurance claims: 5 French practical updates

Our roundup of recent practical articles you may have missed

Should I include appliances in a French house insurance estimate?

When taking out a home cover policy, you are asked to calculate the approximate value of the property

Can I be certain I am insured against flooding at French second home?

A number of heavy floods have recently hit the country

Health insurance in France: what you should expect to pay per age

Region and gender also plays a part in the total cost of top-ups. Policies are forecast to rise significantly this year

Second-home owners in France could soon face insurance surcharge

Government report recommends creating a prevention fund with insurance sector at risk of collapse over natural disaster payouts

End of car insurance stickers in France: what happens in an accident?

Accident forms still require information from green vignettes

Insurance change for drivers: Can I see if car on new French database?

April 1 will see end of current green vignettes

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

UK family faces £20,000 plus bill after son taken ill on Paris trip

Travel insurer is refusing to pay out for the costs of bringing the teenager home

Do Britons lose access to NHS healthcare when moving to France?

When leaving the UK it is necessary to inform the NHS of non-residency

Insurers refuse to cover properties in ‘flood risk’ Brittany town

All of the municipal buildings in the commune are now uninsured

How do I get a ‘lightning certificate’ for French home?

If your home is damaged by lightning during a storm, insurers may require this as proof

France’s ‘catastrophe naturelle’ insurance system: how to claim

This specific compensation covers serious weather events such as earthquakes, floods and landslides and can only come after a government decree

Ten tips on insurance claims for storm damage in France

How to navigate the French insurance system if your property or belongings have been affected by high winds or rain

Top-up health insurance firms confirm big price rises in France

Contracts for individuals could rise by as much as 7%, and almost 10% for groups, a new report has found

Does insurance cover food in fridge ruined after power cut in France?

Some insurance policies will cover this, and in certain cases your electricity supplier may also be required to pay you compensation

What rises are expected to house and car insurance in France in 2024?

A two-year agreement to limit rises is set to end next year, but a minister has warned companies against ‘untenable’ rate increases

Car windscreen insurance stickers to disappear in France from April

The switch to digital is aimed at simplifying checks and reducing fraud. It will also save on paper and CO2, said the government

Water leaks, blocked pipes: what does home insurance cover in France?

All contracts include certain guarantees, but you may not be covered as well as you think

Is getting protection juridique worth it in France?

Some people already receive the cover as part of package deals without even knowing it

Banks, insurance, key dates: five French practical articles

A look at key practical articles from the last seven days

Advice if home in France is damaged in storm - and what about cars?

We look at what damage you can claim for and how long you have to make a claim

Storms in France: Insurers advise action to limit damage to home

They also recommend checking contracts to see you have the appropriate cover

What is a constat amiable and do I legally need one in my French car?

It is highly recommended to carry this document in case of an accident

Can I obtain UK car breakdown cover while living in France?

Some insurance companies offer overseas breakdown cover as standard

Clay shrinkage report, château sale: French property updates

We recap four stories from the world of property in France last week

French MP urges shrinkage report before property purchases

His report also calls for better compensation measures and easier declarations of natural disasters

Can we claim on house insurance if boars damage our French garden?

It is important to specify what cover is required when buying insurance

5% rise in home insurance but wide variations across France

Highest average cost is in the south-west due to weather phenomena

South of France areas hit by storms declared natural disaster zones

Dozens of areas were listed in relation to possible damage caused in September

More French communes declared as 2022 drought natural disaster zones

People affected now have one month to declare any property damage to their insurer

MAP: what to expect to pay in top-up health insurance across France

There is large variation between departments but average cost is significantly more than €250 per month for a couple

How do I make insurance claim after weather damage to French home?

As with drought damage, insurance payments may not arrive until the commune has been declared a drought disaster zone

Why are home and car insurance premiums set to rise in France?

Damage during recent riots should not impact the cost of insurance, experts say, but premiums are expected to increase for other reasons

Why did UK and EU retirees in France get back CSS health top-up?

The refusal policy was reversed this year, giving back free or subsidised healthcare to S1 pensioners

7 points to consider when choosing top-up health insurance in France

How to choose the best policy to cover any healthcare costs not covered by the state

Woman ‘too old’ for French life insurance despite paying for 37 years

The centenarian had her policy cancelled and was then judged ‘too old’ for another one

How much does cataract surgery cost in France?

The cost of cataract surgery in France will depend on the procedure and the hospital or clinic you select

Drought damage claims could get easier due to reforms and Météo-France

The weather reporter is changing how it supplies data for ‘natural catastrophe’ declarations

French motorway breakdown fees have gone up, here is what you pay now

The biggest increases are for weekend and nighttime callouts

June earthquake in France: Who is in official natural disaster zone?

The communes within the area can now apply for compensation from their insurance companies

How much has home insurance gone up in your part of France?

Plus we share tips on how to keep your premiums down

How much does it cost to insure a dog in France?

We look at how much you can expect to pay to insure your dog against vets’ bills in France

Fresh details emerge about cost and impact of French earthquake

More than 5,000 buildings were damaged in the quake in June and the cost of repairs could be as high as €350million, it has emerged

France home insurance: Do policies pay out for rat damage?

Insured or not, it is recommended to take quick action to call out pest control in the case of infestations

Number of uninsured drivers involved in accidents soars in France

We explain what victims need to do to make a claim in such a case

Insurance, property form: 6 changes for residents in France this June

We look at what is new for people living in France

Support for French drought damage bill ‘a good start’

An association representing homeowners whose properties were damaged by drought has welcomed a bill which would reform the insurance system

Insurance does not cover pipe repairs in France

We look at what French insurance companies will and will not cover when it comes to burst water pipes in your home

Briton in France told he CAN keep life insurance post-Brexit

The retired soldier had been told he would have to cancel the UK life insurance policy he had been paying into since the 1980s

Couple’s French residency cards ‘downgraded’ after income drop

They were given less secure one-year ‘cartes de séjour’ despite many years living in France

Why cancelling insurance in France should soon be quicker and easier

From June consumers should be able to end contracts in just ‘three clicks’ online

How to get a second opinion on a French house insurance pay-out offer

Hiring an expert en bâtiment might be cheaper than getting damage assessed by an architect, but their job is not regulated by government

MAP: Warning of insurance issues as flood-risk zones in France expand

At-risk properties may be cheap to buy but difficult to insure - we look at advice from insurance brokers

The French cities where home insurance is most expensive

A new study has shown that premiums tend to cost more in southern cities, and suggests that prices will go up in 2023

Shrink-swell heat damage probably a factor in fatal building collapse

Investigations are under way into incidents that caused a death in Lille; meanwhile homeowners are still waiting to claim on insurance after heatwaves last year

New French law protects phone purchases from unwanted insurance

Customers can often come away with an insurance policy they did not ask for, and currently only have 14 days in which to cancel

Cyber attack insurance is approved to protect French firms

France has also created special policing units to crack down on the hackers who take over a firm’s computer system and threaten to destroy or release data unless paid

Pas-de-Calais tornado: Why is it not an official ‘natural disaster’?

A catastrophe naturelle has not been declared despite winds of 220-270km/h, raising questions over insurance payouts for the damage caused. Several homes were destroyed

French town bit by severe hailstorms in June still in damaged disarray

Up to 97% of buildings were damaged in the short-but-severe hailstorm in Dordogne. The mayor feels like the residents have been ‘forgotten and abandoned’

Five money saving tips to help you this winter in France

Here are five ways to make your cash go further this winter, from reduced food apps like Too Good To Go to fine dining at a discounted price.

Switch insurers at least every four years says French consumer group

We look at how loyalty does not pay, pros and cons of comparison sites and ‘insurtechs’ shaking up the market

France recognises catastrophe naturelle across 163 communes nationwide

The official decrees come after severe storms hit in September. They enable people in the communes listed to claim on insurance for damage

How to claim back excess from French car insurers after an accident

We explain the criteria and process for excess reimbursements and what to do if the insurer refuses

French insurers announce anti-inflation premium cap and other measures

The measures include support for young people, ‘efforts’ to prevent premiums from soaring because of inflation, and the imminent removal of the green insurance sticker

Insurance clarified for self-employed workers in France

Cover can be for everything from civil responsibility to cyber attacks – and now it has all been detailed in a legal manual

Dordogne town battered by hail is left in limbo by French insurers

Residents of Ribérac have to live with makeshift tarpaulin for roofs after a violent hailstorm in June - they are losing patience

9 changes for residents and second-home owners in France in September

From an increased fuel discount to insurance reform, and a price increase for Amazon Prime, we look at changes that may affect you in the coming month

Natural disaster status for 78 communes in Var, Loire and Corsica

The declaration means homeowners affected by storms now have 10 days in which to make insurance claims

Does France reimburse in full the costs of orthopaedic shoes?

We look into the rules around these custom-made shoes