🇫🇷 Europe
Health insurance for Americans living in France
France draws Americans on long-stay visas to Paris, the southwest, and the south of France. Residency opens the door to one of the best health systems anywhere, but not on day one.
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What expats in France should plan for
- The long-stay visa application asks for proof of health coverage.
- Access to the public PUMA system comes after you have been a stable resident for several months.
- New arrivals carry private coverage to bridge that waiting window.
- Even with public coverage, many expats keep private insurance for the parts it does not fully reimburse.
The health system in France
France's public system is excellent once you qualify, but there is a real gap at the start. A long-term plan covers that gap and pays providers directly while your residency settles.
Just visiting France on a trip? See short-term travel medical coverage for France.
Recommended for living abroad
Long-Term
Real health insurance for living abroad.
Expats, remote workers, and retirees living outside the US for six months or longer.
- Comprehensive health coverage, not just emergency travel care
- Renewable year after year while you live abroad
- Access to a vetted international provider network
- Direct pay at in-network providers, so you are not fronting the cost
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Build a life in France. Keep health coverage that follows you there.
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The difference that matters
Your doctor gets paid directly. You do not front the bill.
BCBS Global Solutions has a direct-pay provider network in 190 countries. At an in-network hospital or clinic, the plan settles the bill directly. You are not handing over a credit card for a large medical charge and waiting months for a refund.
That is the gap most travel insurance leaves open. Plans like World Nomads, SafetyWing, and Allianz usually work on reimbursement. You pay upfront, file a claim, and hope it comes back. For a real emergency abroad, that difference is the whole point.
BCBS Global, in network
$0 out of pocket
Plan pays the provider directly at the point of care.
Typical reimbursement plan
Pay first, claim later
You cover the bill, then wait weeks or months for a refund.
Living somewhere else?
See all expat and nomad coverage →Questions about a plan?
Email us and we usually reply the same day. Tell us where you are headed or what coverage you already have, and we will point you to the right plan. No pressure, no sales pitch.
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