First-Euro Insurance or a CFE Top-Up?
Which health insurance should French expats choose? Understand the differences between first-euro insurance and a CFE top-up, with the pros and cons.
Reviewed by a licensed advisor
As a French expat, you have several health insurance options. You can join the Caisse des Français de l'Étranger on its own (the equivalent of French social security), take out a CFE top-up, or choose what is known as "first-euro" insurance.
Here are a few explanations to help you see things more clearly.
The Caisse des Français de l'Étranger (CFE)
The CFE works in the same way as French social security (Sécurité sociale) and reimburses the same amounts. Abroad, your out-of-pocket costs can therefore sometimes be high.
To give you an example: if a GP consultation costs you 100 euros in Hong Kong, you will be reimbursed 18.55 euros, as in France. The remaining 81.45 euros will come out of your own pocket.
CFE top-up insurance
CFE top-up insurance plans are products specially designed to cover the share not reimbursed by the Caisse des Français de l'Étranger. Top-ups play the same role as a French mutuelle (complementary health insurance) and cover the part that is not reimbursed. This type of product can therefore be very useful, especially in Hong Kong, mainland China and Asia in general.
First-euro insurance
As the name suggests, first-euro insurance covers you from the very first euro spent. Reimbursement is independent and is not linked to reimbursement by the CFE.
The pros and cons
CFE top-up | First-euro insurance | |
|---|---|---|
Cover | The cover is equivalent | The cover is equivalent |
Cost | Cheaper | More expensive |
Annual inflation | 5-8% | 7-15% |
Reimbursement | Slower reimbursementMany documents to provide | Faster reimbursement |
Payment | Must be paid quarterly to the CFETwo separate payments: one to the CFE and one to the insurer | Can be annual, half-yearly, quarterly or monthly |
Portability (if you change country) | Possible in both cases | Possible in both cases |
Returning to France | Immediate return to French social security | Return to French social security after 3 months in France |
Written by
François Bossé
Insurance Advisor
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