Profiles
Informational content — no offer yetInsurance for Retiring Abroad
In retirement, health insurance needs to cover a different profile: no employment income, often medical history to declare, and more regular follow-up care needs.
Who it’s for
- French retirees settling long-term abroad
- Those receiving a French pension who want to keep its benefits (S1 form depending on the country)
The S1 form, when it applies
In some countries, a retiree receiving a French pension can, under certain conditions, claim healthcare rights via the S1 form rather than taking out full insurance — eligibility depends on the country of residence and the existence of a coordination agreement with France. To be checked case by case before giving up private insurance. An alternative for a non-working retiree: CFE's RetraitExpat Santé plan, open under specific conditions (length of contribution or country of residence: the EU, the EEA, Switzerland, the United Kingdom, or also Morocco and Tunisia).
What changes with age on a contract
Health insurance rates generally increase with age, and a health questionnaire can affect the firm rate or exclude certain medical history. The diagnostic's indicative price does not replace this questionnaire.
Frequently asked questions
Can you join RetraitExpat Santé at any age?
The plan is aimed at non-working retirees holding a pension from the basic French scheme, under one of these conditions: at least 15 years of contribution to the French scheme, or residence in a country covered by a specific agreement (including the EU, the EEA, Switzerland, the United Kingdom, Morocco, Tunisia), or at least 10 years of contribution with coverage already in place before 1 July 2019.
Can the health questionnaire lead to a membership being refused?
It depends on the contract: some products apply an exclusion or extra premium on a declared condition rather than an outright refusal, but the precise rules vary from one insurer to another and must be checked before assuming a benefit is guaranteed.
Does the S1 form fully exempt you from private insurance?
Not systematically: the S1 opens rights to the local public system under conditions, but it doesn't necessarily cover every type of care or repatriation — supplementary cover often remains useful.
Written by Expavy