When you move abroad permanently, your national health insurance coverage may become insufficient, limited, or disappear entirely: the Vitale card does not apply outside France. International health insurance for expatriates allows you to be reimbursed for your medical expenses anywhere in the world; access high-quality private hospitals and clinics; cover hospitalization, surgery, and emergency care costs; benefit from 24/7 assistance; protect your spouse and children; and maintain coverage even while traveling internationally.
Every expatriate experience is different. That’s why Geodesk designs customized solutions tailored to your situation: expatriate employees; entrepreneurs and executives; self-employed professionals and freelancers; retired expatriates; expatriate families; international students; international volunteers and NGO workers.
If you’re an employee on an assignment—our customized health coverage is valid in over 150 countries, including the most remote or high-risk destinations.
Expatriate health insurance is a policy designed to cover your medical expenses once you are no longer covered by the mandatory French health insurance system. As soon as a person settles permanently outside of France, they are no longer covered by the French Social Security system and, in principle, become subject to the local healthcare system of their host country—where the level of coverage, the quality of healthcare facilities, and the actual cost of care vary dramatically from one country to another.
Expatriate health insurance is an international plan specifically designed to protect French citizens and professionals living abroad. It gives you access to quality healthcare anywhere in the world and provides coverage tailored to your situation: general practitioner and specialist visits; hospitalization and surgery; prescription drugs; medical tests; maternity care; dental care; vision care; preventive medicine; international medical assistance; teleconsultations; medical repatriation; worldwide coverage with or without the United States—regardless of your country of residence abroad or where you receive treatment.
Two approaches coexist in the international health insurance market, and the right choice depends entirely on your country of residence and your status. The first is to maintain a connection with the French Social Security system through the Caisse des Français de l’Étranger (CFE), and then add a mutual insurance plan or international supplemental health insurance to cover what the CFE does not reimburse.
The second option is to purchase what’s known as “first-euro” coverage. The insurer pays out directly starting with the first euro spent, without requiring prior reimbursement from the French Social Security system or the CFE.
In countries where healthcare is expensive—such as the United States, Canada, the Gulf States, and Southeast Asia—first-euro coverage offers better protection; in other situations, the combination of CFE and supplemental insurance remains a viable option.
It is precisely this decision—often a difficult one to make—that Geodesk helps you resolve. Our experts assist you in choosing the level of coverage best suited to your country of assignment, your budget, and your family situation.
An often-underestimated risk — Geodesk understands the reality on the ground.
A hospital stay in the United States, Canada, or a Gulf country typically costs tens of thousands of euros. The CFE, if you are enrolled, reimburses these costs based on French rates, which are much lower than actual rates: the out-of-pocket cost can account for the bulk of the bill. A suitable international health insurance plan covers the actual cost of hospitalization and, most importantly, offers direct billing, which prevents you from having to pay tens of thousands of euros upfront at the time of admission. With Geodesk international health insurance, you benefit from coverage tailored to international medical rates, including: coverage for hospital stays based on the actual costs in the country; the option for third-party payment and direct billing with partner facilities; and support from an international assistance team available 24 hours a day.
Certain destinations present specific challenges: limited medical infrastructure, remote areas, health risks, or sensitive geopolitical contexts.
In sub-Saharan Africa, in certain mining areas, island territories, or regions far from major medical centers, a serious accident or medical condition requiring specialized treatment may necessitate transfer to another country.
Medical repatriation is not automatically guaranteed: it depends, in particular, on the coverage provided in your policy; your geographic coverage area; the terms under which assistance is provided; and the ability to quickly organize a medical evacuation. At Geodesk, we analyze your destination, your activities, and your level of exposure to ensure you have the essential coverage.
When an expatriate moves abroad with their spouse and children, health coverage must include general medical care, maternity care, pediatric care, dental care, specialty care, children’s checkups and vaccinations, and vision care—expenses that the CFE reimburses only partially. A well-structured international health insurance plan provides equal coverage for every family member, with no gaps in coverage when moving to a new country or during temporary returns to France.
International health insurance tailored to your country of residence, your lifestyle, and the risks you face—not a standard policy.
Geodesk analyzes reimbursement limits, deductibles, and often-hidden restrictions (intensive care, resuscitation, surgery, private rooms, etc.) to ensure that your coverage matches the actual cost of care in your country of residence abroad.
We also focus on hidden sub-limits—such as a limited number of days in intensive care or resuscitation within a high overall limit—a common discrepancy between what is advertised and what is actually covered.
In the event of an accident or medical emergency abroad, every minute counts. Coverage for medical repatriation to an appropriate facility—or to France if necessary—is backed by assistance available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year, with medical support and assistance with adjusting to time zone differences depending on the country of assignment, as well as support for your loved ones when the situation requires it.
Coverage includes doctor visits, medical tests, medications, maternity care, and routine medical care—the expenses that weigh most heavily on an expatriate family’s budget and are least often covered by basic plans.
Because a serious accident can have consequences that extend far beyond medical expenses. In addition to health coverage, the plan may include disability, death, and personal accident coverage to protect the expatriate and their loved ones from the long-term consequences of a serious incident that occurs abroad.
Geodesk monitors the actual geographic scope of coverage: it maintains a list of territorial exclusions, handles countries that may be reclassified as high-risk areas within a matter of days, and takes into account transit countries and isolated island territories.
In many countries, private healthcare facilities require payment or a financial guarantee prior to admission. Geodesk prioritizes plans that offer direct payment, so that access to care never depends on your ability to pay upfront.
The international health insurance market is served by major specialized insurers, whose offerings may appear similar at first glance but differ significantly in key areas: actual coverage limits, geographic exclusions, waiting periods, deductibles, and medical networks.
As an independent broker, Geodesk compares the best solutions on the market with complete independence to select the one that truly matches your destination, your situation, and your budget—as well as your country of residence abroad and your specific profile.
At Geodesk, you’ll have a single point of contact who is familiar with your case and will support you throughout your relocation. During an emergency in the field—our clients appreciate our responsiveness and the human touch behind the contract, because someone was already familiar with the situation and was able to take immediate action.
Geodesk specializes exclusively in international insurance, covering more than 150 countries. Where traditional insurance policies fall short, our team steps in to provide coverage for complex and high-risk destinations, constantly monitoring current events and geopolitical, health, and security developments that may affect a country’s risk level.
Geodesk supports: expatriates and their families, companies expanding internationally, NGOs, executives, consultants, frequent travelers, employees on assignment, and students abroad.
Speak with a Geodesk advisor for free and receive a personalized assessment of your international insurance coverage in less than 24 hours.
To check whether you’re truly well-protected under your current international insurance policy, visit
. Many expatriates discover the limitations of their policy…only when a claim arises. Geodesk conducts a free audit of your existing international coverage and identifies your risk areas and any potential gaps—with no obligation and in complete confidentiality—whether you’re already insured or about to leave.
Whether you are an expatriate, an executive, an entrepreneur, or an employee on assignment or secondment, we analyze your situation to identify the actual risks that need to be covered: country of residence, status (expatriate, self-employed, seconded employee, length of stay, family composition, professional activity, local constraints, and budget), as well as family composition, and the duration and nature of your stay abroad.
We select and compare the best solutions on the market to build customized coverage tailored to your profile. We include the coverage that’s truly useful: international health insurance, hospitalization and emergency medical expenses, assistance and repatriation, life insurance, liability insurance, key person insurance, directors and officers (D&O) liability insurance, cyber insurance, coordination with the CFE, or coverage starting at the first euro.
We finalize your contract, verify the waiting periods, the required documents, and the administrative procedures, as well as the effective date of your coverage and your coverage prior to your departure or renewal date, to ensure that your coverage is active at the right time, no matter where you’re going.
Your dedicated representative remains your single point of contact and will assist you throughout the term of your policy: managing reimbursements, filing claims, and adjusting coverage in the event of a change in country or family situation.
Analysis of Your Needs
Whether you are an expatriate, an executive, an entrepreneur, or an employee on assignment or secondment, we analyze your situation to identify the actual risks that need to be covered: country of residence, status (expatriate, self-employed, seconded employee, length of stay, family composition, professional activity, local constraints, and budget), as well as family composition, and the duration and nature of your stay abroad.
Solution Architecture
We select and compare the best solutions on the market to build customized coverage tailored to your profile. We include the coverage that’s truly useful: international health insurance, hospitalization and emergency medical expenses, assistance and repatriation, life insurance, liability insurance, key person insurance, directors and officers (D&O) liability insurance, cyber insurance, coordination with the CFE, or coverage starting at the first euro.
Deployment
We finalize your contract, verify the waiting periods, the required documents, and the administrative procedures, as well as the effective date of your coverage and your coverage prior to your departure or renewal date, to ensure that your coverage is active at the right time, no matter where you’re going.
Follow-up & Support
Your dedicated representative remains your single point of contact and will assist you throughout the term of your policy: managing reimbursements, filing claims, and adjusting coverage in the event of a change in country or family situation.
Pain Without Borders
Pain Without Borders
Pain Without Borders has been using Geodesk's services for several years. Geodesk regularly provides us with insurance solutions tailored to our experts' missions in our various areas of operation, particularly in Ukraine, Ivory Coast, and Mozambique. Communication is always smooth, quick, and efficient, and we are fully satisfied with our collaboration and the availability of our account managers. "
URD Group
A. Lefevre
HR Director
“The travel of Better with Water employees is essential to the success of our field missions. Having a reliable insurance partner allows us to support them with peace of mind, wherever they are working. The quality of the support, the responsiveness of the teams, and the coverage tailored to our needs are a real asset for our organization and for the safety of our employees.”
GERES
X.ARNOULT
HR Director
“For several years, Geodesk and IECD have been developing a structured partnership to benefit the social protection of employees on international assignments. Present in 18 countries, IECD works to promote access to education, employment, and entrepreneurship. Geodesk's support helps to secure these initiatives in sometimes complex or fragile environments, particularly in Lebanon and Madagascar. This long-term partnership is based on a strong and shared relationship of trust between IECD and Geodesk, serving their common commitments on the ground.”
Reporters Without Borders
“RSF has been working with Geodesk for several years. We particularly appreciate the quality of their personalized support. Their teams are always responsive, available, and attentive to our needs. We appreciate their follow-up and always enjoy communicating with them.”
The Alexandre Dumas French Lycée in Moscow
Jean-Paul SCHÜTZ
Principal
“The Lycée Français Alexandre Dumas in Moscow , a school directly managed by the AEFE (Agency for French Education Abroad), places the safety and well-being of its students at the heart of its priorities. This is why we attach paramount importance to the quality of the school insurance we have purchased from CGEA GEODESK. Our school welcomes over 660 students, from preschool to the final year of high school, from numerous nationalities and spread across three separate campuses. In such a demanding international environment, we need a reliable partner. CGEA GEODESK fully meets this requirement. The “INTERNATIONAL STUDENT SCHOOL INSURANCE” coverage protects our students during school hours, on educational outings, and during all extracurricular activities organized by the school, thus providing continuous protection tailored to our daily lives.”
CartONG
L. Cailloce
Administrative and Logistics Officer
“Your speed and responsiveness ensure that we always receive our insurance certificates on time for our employees working in the field, even when we notify you relatively late. This is something we greatly appreciate, and it’s a relief to know that we can count on you in this regard.”
Your Vitale card does not work abroad: it only reimburses medical care received in France. If you enroll with the Caisse des Français de l’Étranger (CFE), you maintain a connection with the French Social Security system, but the CFE reimburses based on French rates—not on the actual cost of care in your country of residence. In a country where healthcare is expensive, this discrepancy can result in out-of-pocket costs that are sometimes substantial. This video explains in practical terms where basic coverage ends and why appropriate international health insurance remains, in the vast majority of cases, essential.
Business travel insurance covers employees on one-time assignments abroad, providing medical care, assistance, repatriation, and liability coverage for both short-term and recurring assignments.
Expat insurance combines all the coverage needed for a long-term stay abroad: international health insurance, life and disability coverage, personal liability insurance, and emergency assistance. Geodesk designs a single, comprehensive policy for the expatriate and their family, tailored to the country of residence and the duration of the stay.
International insurance protects expatriates and their families in the event of disability, inability to work, or death occurring abroad, by providing benefits or annuities tailored to the family’s circumstances.
The Early Return Coverage provides for repatriation in the event of a serious family emergency—such as the hospitalization or death of a loved one—so that you can return home quickly without having to bear the cost of the trip.
The assistance and repatriation coverage arranges medical evacuation to an appropriate facility or to France, as well as 24-hour assistance in the event of a medical emergency, wherever you are.
Individual accident coverage provides compensation to expatriates in the event of a physical injury, in addition to their health insurance, with benefit amounts tailored to the risk level of the destination.
There is no such thing as the “ideal” insurance for everyone, but there is the best insurance for your personal situation. There are three main options available to French expatriates. The CFE (Caisse des Français de l’Étranger) allows you to maintain a connection with the French Social Security system and accrue retirement quarters, but reimburses based on French rates. International supplemental health insurance (or expat health insurance) can be added to the CFE to reduce out-of-pocket costs. Finally, “first-euro” insurance covers actual costs starting with the very first expense, without going through the CFE. The choice depends on your country of residence, your status, your budget, and your family situation—which is exactly what Geodesk analyzes during the audit.
The CFE (Caisse des Français de l’Étranger) allows you to maintain a connection with the French system and continue to benefit from social protection based on Social Security reimbursements. Please note: A waiting period may apply if you enroll in the CFE more than three months after the start of your stay abroad. International health insurance with coverage from the first euro is generally preferable in countries where healthcare is expensive—the United States, Canada, the Gulf States, Switzerland, Singapore, Southeast Asia, etc.—or when you’re looking for comprehensive, customizable coverage that includes medical repatriation. The right choice depends on your life plans, your country of residence abroad, and your budget. Geodesk helps you determine the most suitable solution.
Generally speaking, no. When you become an expatriate, you are no longer automatically covered by the French health insurance system. However, you can voluntarily enroll in the Caisse des Français de l’Étranger (CFE), a private-law social security organization with a public service mission that allows any French citizen residing abroad to voluntarily enroll for health and maternity coverage, workers’ compensation, and retirement benefits. However, the CFE reimburses based on French rates: in the vast majority of countries, it must be supplemented by international health insurance. Geodesk will work with you to determine whether the CFE is truly suitable for your situation.
There is no such thing as the “best” insurance in an absolute sense, but there is insurance that’s best for your situation. Before comparing prices, it’s essential to check: reimbursement limits; the actual costs covered in your country of residence; hospitalization and routine care; exclusions and pre-existing conditions; maternity coverage; medical repatriation; direct payment without upfront costs; the network of partner hospitals; and 24/7 assistance available worldwide.
At Geodesk, we analyze these criteria with you to help you avoid unpleasant surprises when you need coverage the most. Geodesk systematically evaluates each of these points before recommending a personalized solution.
Price can only be compared when coverage is comparable. Two insurance policies with similar premiums may offer very different levels of coverage.
At first glance: some policies include sub-limits for intensive care within an overall limit, deductibles and waiting periods, exclusions for certain geographic areas, no direct payment, or a medical network that doesn’t exist in your country. A thorough comparison requires reading these clauses line by line—which is what a broker specializing in international health insurance, such as Geodesk, does, whereas an online comparison tool often only displays the listed price.
The process is simple: We discuss your expatriation plans. We analyze your current coverage. We compare the best offers on the market. We provide you with a personalized recommendation. We support you through the entire process until the policy is in place and remain your point of contact for the duration of your expatriation. The initial assessment is free, non-binding, and confidential.
The international health insurance market for expatriates is structured around major specialized international insurers. Purchasing coverage directly from these general insurers means you have to compare dozens of often-complex policies on your own.
As an independent broker specializing in international insurance for 30 years, Geodesk represents your interests, not those of an insurer: We compare offers on the market and negotiate the solution best suited to your profile. We also assist you with reimbursements, coverage requests, or in the event of a claim. You’ll have a single point of contact who will support you throughout your international assignment.
The cost of international health insurance for expatriates depends mainly on your age, your family composition, the country where you’re living abroad, the level of coverage you choose, and the geographic area covered. Some policies provide worldwide coverage, while others exclude specific areas or treat transit countries and isolated island territories differently. Global coverage that includes the United States will naturally be more expensive than coverage limited to Europe or Africa. With Geodesk, the goal is not to choose the cheapest plan, but the one that effectively protects you during your time abroad.
