Health Insurance Requirements for French Visa

Posted on Friday, September 21st, 2007 at 4:42 pm

As many of you may be aware, the French Embassy requires non-European citizens to have proof of health insurance for French Visa. This plan needs to provide coverage specifically in France or needs to be considered a worldwide plan. The French Embassy also has very specific requirements that your health insurance plan must meet in order for you to be eligible for the French visa.

Your health insurance plan needs to at least provide $37,500 worth of coverage for you in France. You must provide a letter of coverage to the embassy that states that you are covered at least this amount in France. For most U.S. citizens, their domestic health insurance plan will not extend coverage to them while in other countries. Some domestic insurance companies will but most will not. For those that do, it may be quite expensive and the most they will typically cover is for emergency situations. This will not meet the visa requirements and in addition, it is very hard to get a letter of coverage from them. For those that are students in France, you must also show proof of health insurance. Some students are eligible for student coverage under the French national health plan (sécurité sociale). For those students that are over 28 or at a college not recognized by the French social security system they must take out a personal health insurance policy (assurance personnelle).

Here are two plans that meet France’s visa requirements: Student Secure and Atlas International. You can apply directly online for these plans. After you purchase the plan, you can receive all of your insurance documents immediately via e-mail. This e-mail will include your visa letter, receipt, insurance card and policy details. You can simply print these documents out and provide them to the French Embassy.

The Atlas International plan provides coverage for inpatient and outpatient services, prescription drugs, emergency medical evacuation, repatriation, doctor office visits, etc. This plan allows you to choose your maximum coverage limit (from $50,000 to $1,000,000) and your deductible (from $0 to $2,500). This plan provides worldwide coverage excluding your home country. To be eligible for this plan, you do not have to be a student but you must be outside of your home country.

The Student Secure plan is for full time college students. Student Secure comes in two levels, budget and select. The plan provides comprehensive inpatient and outpatient medical coverage up to $250,000 (budget) or $300,000 (select). The plan also includes maternity, mental health, prescription drugs, sports coverage, emergency medical evacuation, repatriation, doctor office visits, etc. You have the option to pay for it all at once or on a monthly basis.

For more information about your insurance options, please see our dedicated France Student Insurance page covering all these plans and more!

Stylized map of France provided by Shutterstock