International Health Insurance for French expats in the United States
Whether you're moving to the United States, already living there as an expat or having international teams, Alea helps you find the right health insurance plan from the world’s leading insurers.
~24M
Foreign nationals living in the United States
World-class
Private hospital network in the United States
50+
Insurers available
CFE 🇫🇷
CFE Top Up plans available in the United States
Insurance plan
What's Available
How It Works
Three steps, one advisor, free service.
1
Tell Us About You
2
We Compare Plans
3
You Choose We Handle the Rest
Healthcare System
Healthcare in the United States
United States Healthcare at a Glance
The United States has no universal public healthcare system. Most residents are covered through an employer plan, a plan bought on the Affordable Care Act (ACA) Marketplace, or government programs reserved for specific groups: Medicare for people aged 65 and over, and Medicaid for low-income residents. Newly arrived expats generally do not qualify for either. The quality of care is among the best in the world, but so are the prices: national health spending reached USD 14,570 per person in 2023 according to CMS, the highest of any country.
Key Private Hospitals
Mayo Clinic (Rochester, Phoenix and Jacksonville), Cleveland Clinic, Johns Hopkins Hospital (Baltimore), Massachusetts General Hospital (Boston), NewYork-Presbyterian (New York) and Cedars-Sinai (Los Angeles) are among the country’s leading medical centers. Mayo Clinic, Cleveland Clinic and Johns Hopkins run dedicated international patient offices that help foreign patients with appointments, cost estimates and coordination with their insurer.
Why private insurance matters
Without cover, medical bills in the United States can be financially devastating. Hospitals spent an average of USD 3,132 per inpatient day in 2023 (KFF), and what they charge patients is typically higher. Note that most international health plans treat the USA as a separate, more expensive coverage area: a plan without USA cover will not pay for treatment there, beyond any limited emergency benefit for short trips.
Visa & insurance requirements
The United States does not require health insurance for most work visas, such as the H-1B or L-1. The main exception is the J-1 exchange visitor visa: under federal rule 22 CFR 62.14, J-1 holders and their J-2 dependents must hold at least USD 100,000 of medical cover per accident or illness, USD 50,000 for medical evacuation and USD 25,000 for repatriation of remains, with a deductible of no more than USD 500. Most universities also require F-1 students to hold a compliant health plan.
Our Partners
Insurers for
United States
FAQ
