Expat Insurance Question

Hi Joe, Once you take up residence in France and have started paying into the French healthcare system, you are entitled to free medical aid for illness and accident throughout the EU/EEA countries when travelling as a tourist. You'll need to apply for a European Health Insurance Card (Carte Européenne d'Assurance Maladie) from the local health authority in the area where you will be living, there might be a small administrative charge but that is all. The most important thing about this card is that it you are treated as a national of the country, fully paid up in their system - what this really means is that you are not covered for repatriation to France or the US. So for the most part you will only need to concern yourself with travel insurance for trips outside Western Europe, plus repatriation to the States if perhaps you became seriously ill. Here is the Irish website on the card, it is the same for all countries as it is an EU law, not a national law (bit like a federal law as opposed to a state law in the US). Jim.

Can't help with insurance within Europe, but should you ever need to be evacuated back to the US, you might take a look at the policies of MedJet Assist. I've carried their medical evacuation insurance for years. It lets you decide if you need to be returned to the US (vs some clerk in an insurance company). And they have specific policies for ex-pats

Not about insurance but about taxes: Go into it with your eyes open. It can get very complicated and involve filing in both the U.S. and your host country. Hopefully your new employer has someone who can walk you through it. Good luck!

I guess that means if you come "home" for a visit, you'll need to purchase travel insurance that includes medical coverage. So many people in the U.S. are covered by their "company" health insurance worldwide. But those individuals on Medicare do not have insurance when in Europe or even in Canada. They all need to purchase travel insurance w/medical and evacuation coverages.

you are entitled to free medical aid for illness and accident throughout the EU/EEA countries when travelling as a tourist. You'll need to apply for a European Health Insurance Card To clarify, with an EHIC you are entitled to the same level of care and similar prices as citizens of the member country within which you are traveling, nit necessarily the same levels as you will receive in France. You may have to collect receipts for reimbursement too.

Thank you for this, very helpful!!