When you decide to live abroad, it’s essential to prepare for your social protection. The Caisse des Français de l’Étranger (CFE) offers an interesting solution for continuing to benefit from certain French Social Security services. In this article, we explore what the CFE is, how it works, who can join, and why it’s often advisable to take out complementary insurance.
What is CFE?
Created in 1978, CFE is a private organization under the supervision of the French Budget and Social Security Ministries. It fulfils a public service mission by offering a social protection scheme to French nationals living abroad. Its aim is to ensure continuity of social rights (health, workplace accidents, retirement) for expatriates who wish to remain affiliated to the French system.
Unlike the French Social Security system, CFE membership is voluntary. It is open to all French nationals living abroad, whatever their situation (salaried employees, self-employed, pensioners, students, etc.). Nationals of the European Union, the European Economic Area or Switzerland can also join if they have previously been affiliated to a French scheme.
Please note: there are agreements between France and various countries enabling you to benefit from social protection regardless of your destination. To find out more, and in particular whether your destination country has signed a social protection agreement with France or not, visit the CLEISS website (CLEISS accord bilatéral).
Who can join CFE?
CFE membership is open to :
- All French nationals living abroad, with no age limit.
- EU, EEA or Swiss nationals who have been affiliated to a French scheme.
Conditions to be met:
- Reside abroad.
- Not be affiliated to a compulsory French Social Security scheme.
- Not be a frontier worker residing in France.
Employers can also join CFE for their expatriate employees, notably to cover them against occupational illness. CFE membership in no way exempts you from paying contributions to the compulsory scheme in your country of expatriation, if such a scheme exists. To find out all you need to know about who can join CFE, read our dedicated article: “Who is entitled to CFE membership and what does it cover?”.
How does CFE work?
CFE offers a minimum level of social security cover, often adapted to expatriates living in countries where healthcare systems are underdeveloped or expensive. It is based on paid membership formulas whose rates vary according to age and family situation, with no conditions linked to medical history or professional activity.
Since 2019, the offer has been simplified into five main contracts:
- MondExpat Santé: for expatriates and their families anywhere in the world.
- JeunExpat Santé: for people under 30.
- RetraitExpat Santé: for retired people living abroad.
- FrancExpat Santé: for coverage in France only.
- IntégralExpat Santé: to meet the specific needs of residents in Brazil, taking into account the particularities of the local healthcare system.
How do I join CFE?
You can apply online, by e-mail or by post. To do so, you’ll need to fill in a registration form. You won’t need to fill in a medical form. In fact, CFE does not take pre-existing medical conditions into account, so everyone can benefit, even if they have an occupational illness. It also means you’re covered at a single rate, whatever your medical history.
To subscribe to a CFE plan by post, send your documents to the following address:
160, rue des Meuniers
CS 70238 Rubelles
77052 Melun Cedex
France
To subscribe by e-mail, please send your documents to the following address: fichier@cfe.fr
Documents required:
- A copy of your ID or passport.
- Your Social Security number (or birth certificate).
- Proof of entitlement (family record book, marriage certificate, etc.).
- A copy of both sides of your health insurance card (if applicable).
Anticipation is recommended: it is advisable to apply several months before departure to avoid any delay in coverage.
What cover does CFE offer?
In terms of healthcare, CFE reimburses routine medical expenses such as consultations (general practitioners and specialists), hospitalization, dental care, glasses or contact lenses, as well as treatments prescribed by pharmacies.
For work-related accidents and illnesses, CFE offers compensation for medical expenses incurred, pays daily allowances in the event of temporary incapacity, and can award an annuity in the event of permanent disability or death.
As far as retirement is concerned, CFE allows you to continue to contribute to the Caisse Nationale d’Assurance Vieillesse (CNAV), thereby preserving your French pension rights, even while living abroad.
The advantages of Caisse des Français de l’Étranger (CFE)
CFE is a valuable solution for expatriates, offering a minimum level of social protection to make up for the shortcomings of local healthcare systems, particularly in countries where social coverage is limited or inadequate. It enables you to benefit from reimbursements for a wide range of healthcare services, while maintaining a link with the French system.
One of CFE’s main assets is its universal accessibility: it is open to all expatriates, whether salaried, self-employed, unemployed, students or retired. No medical questionnaire is required, and there is no age limit for membership. What’s more, CFE membership does not entail any break with French Social Security, guaranteeing continuity of your rights, as if you were still in France.
In the event of an emergency or serious accident, there is no ceiling on hospitalization costs. Expatriates can also benefit from reimbursements when they return to France temporarily for stays of less than three months.
Do I need to take out complementary health insurance in addition to CFE?
Although CFE provides continuity with the French social protection system, its reimbursements are often insufficient to cover the real cost of care abroad. In fact, CFE benefits are calculated on the basis of French Social Security scales, which do not take into account the often much higher fees charged in countries such as the United States, Canada and Australia.
What’s more, certain essential expenses, such as medical repatriation, third-party liability or transport in the event of death, are not included in the coverage. So it’s essential to take out supplementary health insurance to reduce out-of-pocket expenses and benefit from coverage tailored to your country of residence. This solution ensures better healthcare coverage, while offering peace of mind in the event of unforeseen circumstances.
Case in point: in the United States, a specialist consultation can cost $300 (around €270). With CFE, reimbursement is calculated on the French basis (70% of €46, i.e. €32.20). This leaves an out-of-pocket expense of around €240.
