Hi, and welcome to the forum (and to France).

Where did you hear that the French Health Service is expensive for expats? Heck, having a baby while on assignment in France is kind of an expat tradition! Maternity care is generally excellent here, though as with many things in France, they have some of their own beliefs about the "right" way to have a baby.

OK, if your husband is going to be working in France, he'll be covered by the French national health - as will you, as his "conjointe" (get used to the term, they use it everywhere). If they are trying to keep him on the UK payroll, he might want to negotiate this point.

On the French payroll, they withhold about 20% of your gross for "cotisations" - which are the various social insurances: health, retirement, family allocation, etc. Most French employers also split the cost of a "mutuelle" (or top-up insurance) with the employees. For this, you pay according to how many people are insured, so he'll get tapped for himself and for you. I don't think the mutuelle is optional - if your employer has one, you are enrolled, but it's well worth it so don't fight it.

OK, an hour north of Paris, there aren't a whole lot of english-speaking enclaves - the Brits generally head for the south of France, and the Americans all seem to want to live in Paris (or the south). So, get yourself some French tapes and start dredging up your long-forgotten French. (But plan on getting cable or satellite tv - where you can get some programmes in "version multi" with original soundtrack and French subtitles. I pretend it's to help me in learning French - and it's amazing some of the vocabulary you can pick up watching old favorites with French subtitles!) Always start out addressing people in French, no matter how much you have to struggle. They are much more sympathetic to your plight that way - and may even try helping you by trying out their English. (Doesn't work that way if you start out asking if they speak English - few will admit to it, even if they are quite good.)

To integrate yourselves into the community, hit the mairie (town hall) on arrival and ask them about the associations in town. (The word "associations" is well known - and most are supported in whole or in part by the mairie.) If you can find a group called AVF, join that immediately - it's a "welcome for newcomers" kind of group and a real fast track into the local community. If there's no AVF (and none nearby) find something that interests you - and jump in.

If you do go ahead and have a baby, that's actually one of the best ways to integrate into a new community - between the local "halte garderie" and waiting to pick the kid up from school (and children start school at age 4 in France).

Let us know how things go - and give a shout as more questions come up.
Cheers,
Bev