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4. Voluntary 'Top Up' Health Insurance in France
- 4.1. Limits of Basic Health Cover
4.2. Limits of Voluntary Insurance
4.3. Cost of Voluntary Insurance Contributions
4.4. Getting Voluntary Insurance
4.3. Cost of Voluntary Health Insurance Contributions in France
The contributions you make to a voluntary insurance scheme will be additional to the social security health contributions you will pay (although retired expats from the EEA are exempted from paying into the State system).
As the government seeks to make savings on the social security system, some of the costs are being passed on to the voluntary/ complementary insurance system.
Inevitably, in the last couple of years, there has been a significant increase in contribution rates and this trend is likely to continue. The cost of voluntary insurance will depend primarily on your age and the level of cover you require.
As a general rule, the insurers do not consider your health circumstances when considering your application, so the amount you pay is unlikely to be affected by your state of health.
This rule does not always apply in the case of the private insurers, but is universally applied by the non-profit making mutuelles. Private insurers may also exclude cover for certain illnesses contracted prior to the insurance being taken out.
Neither can the insurer increase your premium because of illness. Thus, your premiums each year are completely unaffected by your state of health, or the treatment you may have received. In reviewing the level of the premium each year, the insurer must apply a uniform increase/decrease to all clients on the same basis.
In relation to age, some private insurers and the mutuelles do refuse cover to new applicants over 65 years of age, in some cases as low as 60 years of age. This is by no means a universal rule, and there are insurers who have tailored policies designed for those 65+.
Most insurers offer service levels on a scale of 1 to 5, with ‘5’ being the highest level of guarantee. It is rarely the best value for money to subscribe to the highest level of guarantee. There is also the greater risk you will be asked to undergo a medical examination, or submit a medical questionnaire for one of the premium rate schemes.
To give some idea of costs, for a couple aged 55 years, not in employment, seeking a guarantee level of 3 for all types of treatment, you might expect to pay between €80 - €100 per month at 2008 rates. You may be entitled to assistance with these costs, depending on the level of your income. For more information read our page on
Assistance with Voluntary Insurance
Next: Getting Voluntary Insurance
Back: Limits of Voluntary Insurance
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