The importance of taking out international health insurance for a pregnancy abroad
Taking out international health insurance is essential for a worry-free pregnancy abroad. Each country has its own healthcare system, with varying costs for pregnancy-related care such as ultrasounds, prenatal consultations and childbirth. A good international health insurance policy will not only ensure that you are adequately covered in the country where you live, but will also limit additional costs. Some international health insurance plans include specific services for expectant mothers, such as consultations with multilingual specialists or access to recognized medical establishments. So it’s vital to shop around before you leave, and choose the coverage that’s right for you.
Pregnancy and maternity abroad: how to prepare?
Pregnancy care habits vary from country to country. Before you embark on this project, or before you leave to live abroad, we recommend that you find out about medical follow-up, the health costs associated with a pregnancy abroad, childbirth and how to register a birth abroad. On a more personal level, you can also find out about the cultural aspect of childbirth, and how women’s pain is dealt with, for example. Because being pregnant isn’t just about expecting a baby and then giving birth. It’s a complete experience, during which it’s important for many women to feel fully supported. Family distance can be all the more difficult, which is why it’s essential to have medical support and friends, or simply people, at your side.
If you’re worried about the language barrier with medical staff, you can ask for a list of French-speaking doctors from the French consulate in the country or town where you live.
Health coverage and administrative procedures for a pregnancy abroad
When you’re expecting a child abroad, it’s important to understand the administrative procedures and health coverage available. Each country has different regulations and healthcare systems, which can influence medical care during pregnancy and childbirth. Find out more beforehand, so you can better anticipate this important stage in your life.
In a European Union country
You can apply for the European Health Insurance Card (EHIC). This entitles you to reimbursement of healthcare costs in EU countries, Norway, Liechtenstein, Iceland and Switzerland. Pregnancy and childbirth costs are covered (provided the purpose of your stay is not to receive such care). The European Health Insurance Card is free of charge, but you need to apply for it from your CPAM before you leave. As an expatriate, it’s a different story, as you are dependent on the country of destination, and are no longer covered by French health insurance. To find out more about the regime deployed in your destination country, and what is covered in the event of maternity, we recommend that you read this information provided by the social security authorities. And don’t hesitate to ask your employer about the expatriate health insurance offered by your company.
Outside the European Union
Outside the European Union, you are no longer covered by the French system; you depend on the country in which you live, to which you are expatriating, whether or not you also choose to take out supplementary expatriate insurance. However, you can ask to contribute to the Caisse des Français à l’étranger, or CFE, to supplement the local system. CFE members are entitled to basic benefits based on French social security rates.
These include: an initial consultation, then one per month between the 4th and 9th months, the first prenatal examination, laboratory tests, amniocentesis and fetal karyotype.
As for childbirth, you don’t need to pay in advance if you give birth in a CFE-approved hospital. For hospitals not covered by the CFE, you will need to send in the invoices for reimbursement of your healthcare costs abroad.
Please note: all these costs are covered if you join the CFE when you leave abroad or, in any case, before conception of the child.
How much does it cost to give birth abroad?
Whether you’re in or outside the European Union, we recommend that you find out the cost of giving birth in the country in question: various tests, ultrasounds, medical follow-up, delivery and maternity stay… can quickly become expensive.A delivery in the United States, for example, can cost up to $50,000, in Hong Kong up to €58,000, and in Thailand up to €5,000. So, whether or not you’re covered by the CFE, we recommend that you take out expatriate health insurance to ensure that you’re properly supervised and supported during your pregnancy abroad.
Giving birth in France when living abroad: a viable option
Most expatriate women choose to spend the first months of their pregnancy in their adopted country. Where to give birth: the choice seems less obvious. Giving birth in France when you live in France is a possibility, even if you choose to monitor your pregnancy in your expatriate country. There are several things you need to know in this case: it’s advisable to choose your maternity hospital as early as the 3rd month of your pregnancy abroad, to be sure of finding a place. It all depends on the airline, but pregnant women are not normally allowed to fly in the last 4 weeks of their pregnancy. You can also ask your doctor for a certificate of fitness. In any case, it’s important to prepare for your trip.
Coverage and health insurance for giving birth in France while living abroad
If you’re living abroad but want to give birth in France, it’s important to plan ahead to ensure optimum care. As an expatriate, you are no longer automatically covered by French Social Security. However, you can join the Caisse des Français de l’Étranger (CFE), which will reimburse you in the same way as the general health insurance scheme in France. If you don’t subscribe to the CFE, we strongly recommend that you take out international health insurance or travel insurance with a maternity option. This will guarantee you cover for the costs associated with giving birth in France, including prenatal consultations, medical examinations and your stay in the maternity hospital. It is also advisable to check travel conditions at the end of your pregnancy, as some airlines restrict boarding from the 8th month of pregnancy.
How do I register a birth abroad?
Once your baby is with you, you can choose to register him or her in France. If you’ve decided to give birth abroad, all you need to do is register the birth with the French embassy or consulate of the country you’re in. You will need a medical certificate stating the date of delivery. You have 15 days in which to do this in a European Union country, and up to 30 days in non-EU countries (and in other European countries). In countries where it is compulsory to declare the birth to the civil registrar, you will need to have the local birth certificate transcribed by the civil registrar – special cases for Algeria, Morocco and Tunisia. As for whether the child will have the nationality of the country of birth, check with the relevant authorities. Whether you’re in or outside the European Union, we recommend that you take out expatriate health insurance and find out about maternity cover, to ensure that your pregnancy abroad is as well cared for as possible. So you can feel supported and accompanied, as if you were in France… but abroad. Don’t hesitate to contact our team of international health insurance experts at Santexpat.fr to find out more, and find the expatriate health insurance that’s right for you and your country.
