Getting a local health insurance

[sivaut]

Greetings

I will be moving to Toulouse in the second week of July.

Am trying to get insurance from my home country provider (INDIA). And it doesnt have good terms.

Can I travel on a short term insurance ( say 2 months ) & then apply for health insurance with a local provider?

Would it be of normal cost or astronomical for the expats?

Will the co-pay be equivalent as that of US insurance providers. My Indian provider says that he can not reimburse expenses below EUR 70

Thanks
Siva

[Bevdeforges]

If you're going to be working in France, you'll be covered automatically by the national insurance (Sécu Social) and most likely by an employer-provided mutuelle. It isn't a bad idea to get yourself a travel insurance for the first month or two until you get settled in and started up with work (basically to protect you in case of an accident or serious illness during this time).

If you're not going to be working, you would have had to provide evidence of insurance as part of your visa application process (and that insurance IS expensive).

The health care system in France is a reimbursement system - you pay for your doctor's appointments and most out-patient treatments, then you are reimbursed by the system. The sécu reimburses about 70%, with the mutuelle picking up the rest. (There are some exceptions, but that's the general pattern.)

You pay for the insurance via payroll deduction. The sécu portion is based on a percentage of your salary and covers your whole family, while the mutuelle is normally paid for on a per-person basis, with one monthly fee for each adult covered, and a lower fee (usually about half) for each child covered.

Takes a little getting used to, but basically the system works pretty well.
Cheers,
Bev

[expatinho]

Hey Siva,

Great to hear you're coming to our country.

Concerning your health care insurance, everything depends on what you're going to do in France. If you get a job legally, then you will be covered just as French would be (National Social Security + Complementary plan paid by your employer).

But if you're not planning to work or can't find a job, i think the best solution is to get an international healthcare plan that will cover your medical expenses.

I know a new plan that is particularly good for impatriates, developped by Allianz Worldwide Care. It's called Indigo and you can have a look at their website at assurance sante expatrie Indigo (you can google it!)

Good luck

Originally Posted by sivaut

Greetings

I will be moving to Toulouse in the second week of July.

Am trying to get insurance from my home country provider (INDIA). And it doesnt have good terms.

Can I travel on a short term insurance ( say 2 months ) & then apply for health insurance with a local provider?

Would it be of normal cost or astronomical for the expats?

Will the co-pay be equivalent as that of US insurance providers. My Indian provider says that he can not reimburse expenses below EUR 70

Thanks
Siva

[coloma gold]

Originally Posted by sivaut

Greetings

I will be moving to Toulouse in the second week of July.

Am trying to get insurance from my home country provider (INDIA). And it doesnt have good terms.

Can I travel on a short term insurance ( say 2 months ) & then apply for health insurance with a local provider?

Would it be of normal cost or astronomical for the expats?

Will the co-pay be equivalent as that of US insurance providers. My Indian provider says that he can not reimburse expenses below EUR 70

Thanks
Siva

We are moving to France and found that our trip insurance had medical coverage for one year.. May consider this as an option.