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Informational content — no offer yetCFE Top-Up Insurance
A CFE top-up adds to your affiliation with the Caisse des Français de l'Étranger to cover what it doesn't: the difference between its reimbursements on French bases and the real rates in your country of residence.
Who it’s for
- People already affiliated, or in the process of affiliating, with CFE
- Those who want to keep a link with French Social Security
- Those living in a country with high medical costs
Who it’s not for
- Those who prefer a single plan without double affiliation — see first-euro insurance
Why CFE alone is often not enough
CFE reimburses on French Social Security bases, which have no relation to the real cost of care abroad. A consultation or hospitalisation billed at local rates can leave a significant out-of-pocket balance once the CFE reimbursement is applied — see CFE or private insurance. For those who prefer a single plan without double affiliation, see first-euro expat health insurance.
What a top-up covers
A health top-up is calibrated to cover all or part of the gap between the CFE reimbursement and the real rate paid on-site — consultations, hospitalisation, pharmacy, depending on the plan chosen and the country of residence.
First, what CFE alone would cost you
Before pricing a top-up, you need to know the baseline: the CFE contribution itself, which follows an age scale rather than an income scale.
Simulator — April 2026 scale
315 € / quarter
About 105 € per month (quarterly amount divided by three — CFE bills quarterly, not monthly) — 35 to 39 years bracket.
Health-maternity-disability branch contribution only, excluding the optional provident cover (daily allowances, disability, death benefit) and the pension branch. April 2026 scale, to be re-checked with the CFE if a new scale is published.
Frequently asked questions
Can I get a top-up without being affiliated with CFE?
No: a CFE top-up is designed to work alongside an active CFE affiliation. Without CFE, the relevant option is first-euro health insurance.
Written by Expavy