Whether alone, as a couple or as a family, many questions arise before leaving for an expatriation. Sometimes it’s the story of a lifetime, a real adventure. When you decide to embark on this new life, many questions arise. This is especially true when you’re pregnant abroad or have a young child. The situation can be very stressful, with questions about schooling, health care systems and adapting to your child’s new environment. It’s easy to worry about your little adventurer, and that’s perfectly normal! We want to provide them with the best possible living environment. For peace of mind abroad, there are a few things to consider before you leave France. Health insurance for your expatriate family is one of the things to consider.
Health risks abroad: everything you need to know for your family and your child
An important point to consider before leaving for a foreign country is the quality of healthcare services provided in your host country. In France, we are fortunate to have a very good healthcare system, with high-quality infrastructures and highly qualified practitioners, but this is not the case in all foreign countries. For example, if you choose to expatriate to a developing country such as Africa or India, the health conditions and management of pediatrics are very different.
As a first step, find out about local customs in your expatriation country. For example, ask yourself:
- How often is my child monitored abroad?
- How easy is it to obtain basic medicines for a child?
- Is follow-up care provided by a “general practitioner” or by a child specialist? A pediatrician, for example.
- What types of illnesses, viruses or bacteria are most common in the foreign country to which my family is moving?
- How qualified are the doctors?
- Is there a paediatric ward in the hospital near my new home?
Good preparation is the key to peace of mind once you’re there. You can also research the quality of medicine in the country where you and your family will be living. You’ll easily find books, guides and blogs written by French expatriates already living there.
Children have a tendency to catch viruses, illnesses and bacteria. During their school years, they’ll also be more exposed to germs, not to mention the change in climate. Potential stress due to the move or the change of diet can also have an impact. Their immune defenses are often weaker than those of adults, so you may need to visit the doctor more regularly.
Expatriate health insurance, teleconsultation from abroad and medical repatriation
Check that your expatriate family health insurance covers repatriation in the event of an emergency or health problem requiring lengthy treatment. Sometimes it’s more reassuring to be repatriated to France so you can consult a practitioner with whom you can communicate in your native language. Indeed, if you are not bilingual, it may be easier for you to express your child’s symptoms, and he or she may even be able to do so themselves. Expressing symptoms in French will help you better understand the diagnosis. Returning to France during a medical incident also allows you to be close to your family, which can be reassuring for both you and your child.
We also advise you to check whether your health insurance offers access to teleconsultation from abroad. No matter what the day or time, your child may have symptoms or be ill. It’s not always easy to get to a doctor… Thanks to teleconsultation, you can be put in touch with a doctor in the language of your choice, at any time. The teleconsultation service offered on the santexpat.fr website is a real plus.
One last tip: prepare a first-aid kit before you leave France. Contact your pediatrician or general practitioner so that he or she can prescribe a set of medicines for your child. Practical and reassuring! In some parts of the world, you may find it difficult to find certain medicines.
Do I need specific expatriate health insurance for my child?
Any symptom, bacterium or virus can become a source of stress during an expatriation. It is sometimes necessary, or reassuring, to consult a doctor and have regular tests. For infants, it’s advisable to see a pediatrician every month for the first six months. The bill can quickly rise if you’re not properly insured abroad!
In France, a pediatric consultation costs between €32 and €60. These services are reimbursed at 100% by the French social security system. If you’re an expatriate in the UK, you’ll have to pay an average of £120* (around €139), which will not be reimbursed if you don’t have health insurance for your family during your expatriation.
So that cost never becomes an obstacle to consulting a doctor or pediatrician, we advise you to take out international health insurance tailored to your family and the healthcare costs in your expatriate country. A “French-style” health insurance policy will give you access to the best health specialists and allow you to consult as often as you like, without incurring any costs. What’s more, with international health insurance, you’ll have access to French healthcare professionals in your expatriate country. This can be very useful when you’re not bilingual and want to be reassured about your children’s health.
Pediatrics and pandemics: the example of COVID-19
In the context of a global pandemic, such as COVID-19, some French people decided to return to France for health reasons. Some were also worried about their children, as schools closed and it was virtually impossible to have a “normal” social life. The risk of a child contracting the COVID-19 virus in certain foreign countries was greater than in France, due to unequal access to vaccines, medicines and protective masks, etc. Others decided to stay in France for health reasons. Others have decided to stay in their host country, but wish to be properly cared for in this very particular context. That’s why it’s particularly important to be properly insured with a family health insurance policy for your expatriation.
Should you have any questions or difficulties during your expatriation, you can contact an international health expert at any time. Consult our case study “Child illness emergency, what to do?“
* Indicative price for the private sector in the UK.
