Travel Insurance to France

Insurance for summer holidays, short breaks and skiiing in France.

Hop across the channel to cheap holidays and short breaks but without travel insurance you could find yourself in difficulties.

The NHS Medical card "EHIC" provides state medical cover but the benefits of travel cover which the UK government recommends.

Travel Insurance

Travel insurance is designed to cover the travel risks tourists face, including:

• Cancellation, curtailment & trip interruption
• Emergency medical cover & repatriation from abroad
• Baggage for accidental loss of, theft of or damage to items of baggage, articles and valuables
• Personal money - accidental loss of, theft of, or damage to it
• Personal liability - for compensation, legal costs and expenses of 3rd parties
• Delayed departure
• Missed departure at home or destination
• Missed connection departure or return
• Hijack/Kidnap - of your plane or ship
• Legal expenses - legal costs (to a set value) to pursue a civil action
• Extended dog kennel / cattery fees - if delayed abroad for medical reasons
• Winter sports optional addition

Sports activites

Even cheap policy schedules provide a long list of allowed activities such as:

• cycling and mountain biking
• hiking and orienteering
• fishing, rowing; and sailing/yachting (if qualified)
• horse riding

If you want adventure you may have to contact the insurer and check if they will include specific hazardous sports, such as winter sports, professional sports and racing. If you are injured or your equipment is lost or damaged and your activity is excluded your insurance will not cover associated costs.

Pre-Existing Medical Conditions

Travel insurance is not generally a substitute for a private medical insurance policy as it usually only covers emergency medical treatment in the event of accident or unexpected illness occurring during your trip.

Unless an additional premium is paid, any usually significant existing problems (within the near past) are excluded.

Most insurers provide a medical screening service to assess conditions and quote for the cost of covering a pre-existing condition such as a heart problem, high blood pressure, raised cholesterol or blood clots.

N.B. If you or a member of your group fails to declare an existing condition then you might find difficulty over cancellations caused by it.

Remember to take your NHS EHIC card on trips to France. Check the renewal date and order another FREE online if it is lost or out of date. More details below.

Single or Multi-Trip

If you're regularly fly, drive or ferry to France then the best valus and cheapest prices could be with a multi trip travel insurance. These annual policies are designed to cut costs and hassle and they allow you to select a winter sports option too. Annual policies usually trump single trip cover for 3 or more trips.

Ski & Winter Sports

The Alpine and Pyrenees ski resorts provide fun but also a little risk. The potential for accidents and equipment loss means proper ski/winter sport cover isn't really an option, especially for families and the elderly.

Most policies have a "winter sports" option if you want to hit the slopes. As an add-on you'll usually have cover for ski equipment - your own or hired, the hire costs, ski school package costs, piste closure and avalanche or landslide cover sour holiday isn't a total disaster.

The policy extension includes the usual winter sports activities and some associated liabilities:

• Winter Sports Usually Covered
  • Skating: - Blade and ice skating
  • Alpine Skiing:- on and off piste but within the resort boundaries (piste is defined as the marked ski run within the resort boundaries), alpine, mono, big foot, cross country/Nordic, dry slope, glacier skiing
  • Powered: - Sleigh riding as a passenger (pulled by horse or reindeer)*, husky dog sledding (organised, non-competitive and with local driver), Snow mobiling (skidoo)*, ice windsurfing*, ice go karting (within an organiser's guidelines)*
  • Boarding: - Snow boarding on & off piste but within the resort boundaries and airboarding
  • Sledging: - Kick sledging, sledging and tobogganing
  • Walking: - Glacier, snow shoe walking, winter walking (using crampons & ice picks only)
  • Snow tubing (inflatable rubber rings)
  • Training:- Training/racing (ski school)
• Ski Equipment
  • Often defined as skis and snow boards (inc. bindings), ski boots and ski poles. (Usually excluded in regular travel insurance "baggage" clause).
  • Value: - Depreciation is based on a sliding scale over x years (e.g. 5) down to zero. Proof of ownership and receipts required.
  • In Transit: - If damaged in transit usually you'll need a report from the airline and to file a claim. If in the care of another carrier you'll probably need their written confirmation.
• Unattended Equipment:- You must generally have kept any owned/hired equipment in a secure baggage area when unattended. Loss, theft of or damage to ski equipment is often only covered if contained in, or stolen from an unattended vehicle when locked and out of sight in a secure baggage area. It's usual to need a Police report showing forced entry.

EHIC & Healthcare in France

UK has reciprocal healthcare and medical arrangements with France, the EHIC replaced the E111 form and the new EU medical card enables UK and Non-EEA nationals to be treated on the same basis as a resident of France. EHIC covers treatment of pre-existing medical conditions and for routine maternity care (not birth).

NHS advise you to make sure before you book an appointment the that doctor or dentist is registered with the state healthcare provider in France (conventionné ie). 'Conventionné' either make charges at the official social security rate (Secteur 1); or have an extra fee on top of the official rate (Secteur 2).

Doctors and Dentists

You must pay the doctor or dentist directly and they will complete a treatment form or 'feuille de soins' (for claims/refunds) and a prescription form if necessary. Back in the UK you can claim back around 70% of the standard treatment cost: 21 Euros (GPs); (25 Euros specialist).

Hospital Treatment

How to claim: Present your EHIC or your 'carte vitale' on admission to avoid paying refundable costs up front and ensure you only pay the patient contribution.

Generally, you pay 20% co-payment towards treatment. Inpatients pay a hospital charge of 16 Euros a day. If you receive major medical treatment an additional flat-rate contribution of 18 Euros is levied. Non-refundable in France, you may be able to seek refunds back in the UK.

If admitted to a private hospital or clinic, try to ensure it's registered to provide state healthcare.

Prescriptions

Choose a pharmacy working within the French healthcare system. Your prescription should also have a treatment form (feuille de soins) – you need it to claim a refundand medicines are only reimbursable if listed as such. Refund rates vary between 15% - 100% of the sale price. You may be able to obtain a refund back in the UK.

Ambulance

A doctor must confirm your need. Alternatively, use a light medical vehicle (vehicule sanitaire leger - VSL) to get to hospital. Ambulances are chargeable and you may be able to obtain a refund back in the UK.

Driving in France

Many different rules exist for driving in France, such as having compulsory equipment with you: Warning triangle and Reflective jacket; Insurance: Third-party is compulsory; Roundabout, headlight and horn useage rules; Severe penalties for drink driving, speeding and unrestrained passengers; carrying, transporting or use of radar detectors.

See AA Advice for more details about driving in France, and their page about driving in Europe

FCO Advice

FCO advice on travel to France (opens new window)

Living and Working in France

UK citizens registered in another EEA country and using an E106 or E121 are not automatically eligible for free treatment in the UK.

If you get a UK state pension, or in receive long-term incapacity benefit, you may be entitled to French state healthcare paid for by the UK. You will need to apply for an E121, which you should then present to the French health authorities.

If you move to France to live but not work and don't receive a UK benefit, you may be eligible for up to 2.5 years of French state healthcare cover, paid for by the UK. In this case, you will need to apply for an E106.

If working in France you will need to apply for and receive an E106. You will need to contact the local CPAM office in France, which will issue you a health insurance card (carte vitale). The card is evidence that you are entitled to receive healthcare as a French resident.