International Travel Insurance Service for Expats in France

If you are an expat in France preparing to travel to your next dream holiday destination, you should ensure that you, your family and your belongings are suitably covered before you hop on the plane or the ferry.

Have you had flights or a holiday package cancelled in recent years? Or are you looking to renew your international travel policy?  Perhaps you’re concerned about an existing medical condition that could flare up unexpectedly or worsen while you are travelling. 

If so read on, there are various packages available for expats in France, here are the main options for travel insurance.

French Travel Insurance

1- Assistance only, which covers health costs and repatriation in case of accident or illness. There are two options: Europe-wide cover or worldwide cover. 

2- Assistance that covers health costs and repatriation in case of accident or illness, plus cancellation. Again, there are two options: Europe cover or worldwide cover.
 
3- Assistance which covers health costs and repatriation in case of accident or illness, plus cancellation, plus baggage, plus anticipated return home and legal representation abroad. Worldwide, there is no European cover option.
 
4- Assistance that covers health costs and repatriation in case of accident or illness, plus baggage, plus anticipated return home, plus legal representation abroad. There are two options: Europe-wide cover or worldwide cover. Option four does not include cancellation.

Luggage Issues During a Flight

Have you experienced an issue with your luggage during a flight? What are the conditions for compensation, and how should you proceed?

Delayed Luggage

A piece of luggage is considered delayed if it does not arrive upon disembarkation but is delivered to you later.

If your luggage is missing on arrival, report it immediately at the airline’s desk so they can record your claim and, if needed, begin a search. If there’s no desk available, contact your airline as soon as possible.

Top Tip - If your delayed luggage forced you to make essential purchases, you can request reimbursement from the airline by presenting the receipts.

Lost luggage

If the carrier admits to losing your checked luggage, or if it has not arrived within 21 days of the scheduled arrival date (14 days if under the Warsaw Convention), it is considered lost. You can then claim reimbursement for your suitcase and contents.

Send a written request to the airline, ideally by registered mail with acknowledgement of receipt, and include receipts for the lost items. If proof is unavailable, compensation may be offered based on the weight.

Damaged luggage

If your luggage was damaged or destroyed during transit, you can request reimbursement for the cost of the suitcase and damaged items, including photos, purchase receipts, etc.

Compensation for Loss or Damaged Luggage

Maximum compensation is about €1,525 per passenger for flights under the Montreal Convention, equivalent to 1,288 SDRs, a fluctuating international monetary unit. Under the Warsaw Convention, compensation is based on weight, roughly €27 per kilogram, also fluctuating with the SDR rate.

If your loss is smaller than these limits, reimbursement covers only your damage amount. If the proven damage exceeds the liability limit, you can claim up to that limit unless you declared a higher interest at check-in.

Additional reimbursement may be available through insurance, such as luggage or credit card insurance. Note that airlines generally do not reimburse lost personal effects at their new value but often account for depreciation. For more information, visit the Service Public website.

Get a Quote for Travel Insurance

These policies are provided under the understanding that the French health system, CPAM or RSI, covers you. If you would like to take out travel cover or have any questions, simply fill out the form online, and our bilingual insurance colleagues will send you a quote in plain English, usually within 24 hours.

We can also assist with motor/car insurance and currency exchange if required.