France: travelers & medical insurance

If something serious happens to you in your travels you're not covered by the government medical schemes. While there are no reports of officials asking proof of coverage, EU regulation requires that visitors have at least 30,000 euros in medical/evacuation/repatriation coverage. If you were to suffer a severe leg or hip break which required special arrangements to get you back home to recuperate that can cost $50,000-$100,000! So it's smart to make sure you are covered. I use this company for my travel insurance: http://www.medexassist.com

It is my understanding that those of us from the US are not covered by any European government insurance. I have used the website Insure My Trip many times. I have luckily not had to use it, but feel better with extra insurance when in Europe. If, for no other reason, than evacuation in case of emergency. I have been able to purchase medical insurance for under $100 for two people for a two week plus trip.

I second what Kathryn posted and I use InsureMyTrip and chose Travel Guard and my wife and I paid $300 total, which included almost everything we could sign up for, for a one month trip thru Europe this last June and July. We figure it is a small price to pay for the peace of mind in knowing that we are covered no matter what happens and given the out of pocket costs that we spend on that one month trip. I have never heard of any European country covering US citizens with that countries medical insurance. They will, however, treat anyone who comes to their facilities with a medical problem but then will charge them for it. Some plans pay that bill up front and in other plans, you have to pay the bills first and then submit them to the insurance plan for reimbursement. Always nice to be covered just in case.

The others are correct. You should check with your medical plan provider and see what is covered and how. Some private plans that I am aware of, require you to pay the bill, then submit the bill for payment once you return. I would not worry about minor cuts, and scraps but you need to worry about major injuries that could require a long hospital stay or evac back to states. That is where the costs are. If on Medicare, it does not pay for anything.

We never had to purchase medical insurance because we were covered by our company; however, when we went on Medicare it was a different story. The first year we purchased medical insurance (through Insuremytrip), we were in France and my husband got sick and was hospitalized for 3.5 days. The charges were cheap compared to the U.S. Nevertheless we were very happy to have the insurance since he had many tests and we had some trip cancellations and rescheduling that needed to be done. We had to pay the bills while there and then were reimbursed when we returned home and submitted them. This year we purchased the insurance through American Express and thank goodness no one got sick.

The question the OP should ask himself is "Why would the French government cover my medical expenses when I, an American citizen, visit France?"

Hi, Two times in traveling over there where I had to see a doctor. Once in France, in Toulon and the other time in Germany, in Aachen, which was more of a pharmacy. In neither place was I asked if I had med insurance. (I did ). They knew I was from the Calif. In Toulon it was an office visit for this running fever I had but couldn't shake. The office visit and meds he gave me were alot cheaper had that visit been in the US, ca. 100 francs in 1999. If it's an emergency, you'll be admitted.

I contacted the French Embassy in the United States. Their information was extremely helpful. It was easy to find (across four websites, taking very little time to scan through them, with obvious, readily identifiable links to the next website). Here is the last one: Cleiss.fr/ Access to Healthcare while visiting France http://www.cleiss.fr/particuliers/access-to-healthcare-in-france.html ANSWER: As an American, I have to buy my own traveler's medical insurance. Thank you everybody for your replies!
Michael Schneider, Kathryn, Charlie, Frank, Sharon (we might disagree but health care is a human right, nationally or internationally), & Fred

RE: Medicare. IF you have medigap supplement plan F, G or N, it says it covers emergency expenses outside the US after a $250 deductible. I bought this plan on the recommendation of my physician, who travels abroad every year. (But I have yet to need to use this coverage.)

For clarification, even EU citizens who are living outside the EU and not paying into the insurance schemes are not covered under the national plans. As a visitor, you won't be turned away, but you'll receive a bill for the full costs, which are much lower than in the US. The care is of equal quality.