The cost of giving birth abroad
The cost of giving birth can vary enormously from country to country. Unlike France, where social security and mutual insurance cover a large part of the costs, in many countries these costs are borne by patients without adequate health cover.
- United States: Up to €28,000 for a C-section with complications.
- United Kingdom: Approximately €12,000.
- Thailand: Between €5,000 and €12,000, depending on the clinic chosen.
- Hong Kong: Up to €52,000 for a C-section.
These examples underline the importance of having health insurance to cover maternity costs.
The importance of regular prenatal check-ups
Prenatal medical appointments play a fundamental role in the smooth progress of pregnancy and the health of the unborn child. They enable continuous monitoring of the growth and development of the fetus, while offering the opportunity to detect and treat any abnormalities or complications at an early stage. This preventive medical monitoring is essential to ensure optimal development of the baby and significantly reduce the risks associated with pregnancy. For so-called “high-risk” pregnancies, specialized monitoring is essential. Maternal-fetal medicine professionals, when available in the country of residence, can provide invaluable expertise and ensure reinforced medical surveillance. These specific consultations often include in-depth examinations and personalized advice, providing expatriate mothers-to-be with support tailored to their needs. Regular prenatal check-ups are therefore much more than just a formality: they are a guarantee of safety and serenity for both mother and child, whatever the destination.
Social protection options for pregnancy abroad
When a mother-to-be lives or works abroad, it’s essential to understand the various social protection options available to ensure optimum care during pregnancy and childbirth. Here’s an overview of the main solutions:
The local healthcare system
As an expatriate, you are generally dependent on your host country’s healthcare system. Each country has its own rules concerning maternity, and levels of coverage vary considerably. In some countries, pregnancy-related expenses are not reimbursed or are only partially reimbursed, often at lower rates than in France. It is therefore vital to check with local organizations or the Centre des Liaisons Européennes et Internationales de Sécurité Sociale(CLEISS) to find out about your rights and coverage.
Caisse des Français de l’Étranger (CFE)
CFE is an extension of French Social Security for expatriates. It offers protection similar to that of the general French system, including coverage of health and maternity expenses. However, certain conditions apply:
- Pre-registration: We recommend that you register with the CFE before your departure abroad, to avoid any interruption in coverage. If you have already been abroad for more than three months, childbirth will only be covered if the child was conceived after you joined.
- Formalities: To benefit from maternity cover, you must provide CFE with a medical certificate specifying the presumed date of delivery.
- Healthcare network: Not all healthcare establishments abroad have agreements with CFE. It is therefore important to check whether the hospital or clinic of your choice is partnered with CFE, in order to facilitate procedures and coverage.
Private international health insurance
Taking out private international health insurance can offer more extensive coverage, tailored to the specific needs of expatriates. Such insurance generally includes :
- Prenatal care: Consultations, ultrasounds, tests and other examinations required to monitor pregnancy.
- Delivery costs: Whether by vaginal delivery or Caesarean section, coverage is provided for medical fees, hospitalization and postnatal care.
- Possible complications: Coverage for unforeseen situations that may arise during pregnancy or childbirth.
Some insurance companies, such as Cigna Global, April International or Allianz, offer direct payment services to partner healthcare establishments, so that policyholders do not have to pay in advance. It is essential, however, to read the policy’s general conditions carefully, particularly with regard to waiting periods, possible exclusions and reimbursement ceilings.
Returning to France to give birth?
It’s possible togive birth in France if you live abroad! In France, all medical examinations required as part of maternity care are reimbursed at 100% by the French health insurance system (according to the conventional social security tariff). However, to benefit from this coverage, you must be affiliated to the French health system. As an expatriate, working and/or living abroad, the only way you can still benefit from the French system is to join the CFE. And to have been affiliated to it since your departure. You can’t join the scheme more than 3 months after your departure after becoming pregnant, but as a CFE member you can get medical treatment in France for up to 3 months. To benefit from coverage in France for longer than 3 months, you will need to take out a specific option. Without your CFE membership, you won’t be able to give birth in France while you’re living abroad.
Cultural specificities and local practices
Giving birth abroad means immersing yourself in medical and cultural practices that are sometimes very different from those in your home country. These particularities can greatly influence your choices in terms of prenatal care,childbirth and postnatal care. Here are a few examples of country-specific practices:
- In the Netherlands: Pregnancy follow-up is mainly carried out by midwives. Consultations with an obstetrician are scheduled only in the case of complications or high-risk pregnancies. Many women choose to give birth at home, a common and socially valued practice.
- In Thailand: Private clinics offer high-end maternity care, often tailored to the needs of expatriates. They have modern equipment and offer packages including prenatal care, delivery and postnatal care. Fees are high, however, underlining the importance of international health insurance.
- United States: Prenatal care and childbirth mainly take place in hospitals or specialized centers. Most deliveries are medicalized, with a high rate of caesarean sections. Costs are very high without appropriate health insurance.
