Glossary
CFE top-up: definition
Private health insurance taken out in addition to the CFE to top up its reimbursements, which are calculated on French rates rather than the real cost of local care.
The CFE reimburses based on French Social Security’s negotiated rates, regardless of the actual cost of care in the country of residence. A CFE top-up steps in to bring the total reimbursement closer to the amount actually spent, generally within limits specific to the policy taken out.
This approach requires dual affiliation — CFE plus a top-up — unlike first-euro insurance, which fully replaces the logic of reimbursement on French rates with a single reimbursement based on actual costs. Keeping the CFE and topping it up preserves the link with French Social Security; giving it up in favor of first-euro cover simplifies management but breaks that link.
Example
A hospital stay billed locally at a rate well above the French rate is reimbursed by the CFE on its usual basis, then topped up by the CFE top-up for the remaining gap, within the limits set by the policy.
Also searched as: CFE supplementary cover · CFE excess cover
Related terms