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Best Travel Insurance for France Vacations in 2024

  • Travel insurance is not required for France unless your trip is over than 3 months. (See Schengen travel visa requirements for more info).
  • France almost never accepts U.S. health insurance. Therefore, medical travel insurance is a must to cover you for medical emergencies.
  • Based on our research, the best travel insurance for France comes from: Tin Leg, Travel Insured International, Generali, Nationwide, Cat70, & Seven Corners (skip ahead to see these plans).
  • Expect travel delays, disruptions, and heightened crowds as France hosts the 2024 Summer Olympics this year (July 26th to August 11th).
  • Comprehensive travel insurance can cover travel delays and disruptions including delays from French transportation strikes, public train/transport failures, congestion caused by the recent prohibition of many domestic flights, and more.
  • If you plan to stay in France for more than 90 days, you’ll need to obtain a Schengen travel visa, which requires a minimum amount of insurance coverage for medical expenses and repatriation.
  • We recommend using an online comparison tool to get quotes from multiple travel insurance providers at once.

Whether you’re in the mood for art museums or world-class beaches, France has something for everyone. If you have a trip coming up, it’s important to purchase the best travel insurance beforehand, as there’s always a chance that you’ll have an emergency while you’re overseas.

We created this guide to help you learn more about the best travel insurance for France, such as:

Here is a quick recap of the best travel insurance plans we recommend for France.

Our selection of the best travel insurance for France

Advertiser Disclosure
Best Rated Travel Insurance

Tin Leg

GET A QUOTE via Squaremouth’s secure website
4.6
Preferred Plan
Gold
Covers COVID
YES
Medical & Evacuation Limits Per Person
$500,000 / $500,000
Best for Medical Evacutation Coverage

Travel Insured International

GET A QUOTE via Squaremouth’s secure website
4.39
Preferred Plan
Worldwide Trip Protector
Covers COVID
YES
Medical & Evacuation Limits Per Person
$100,000 / $1,000,000
Best Value Travel Insurance

Generali Global Assistance

GET A QUOTE via Squaremouth’s secure website
4.34
Preferred Plan
Standard
Covers COVID
YES
Medical & Evacuation Limits Per Person
$50,000 / $250,000

Do Americans need travel insurance for France?

Travel insurance is not a legal requirement for traveling to France unless you plan to stay for longer than 90 days, but it’s highly recommended.

Most U.S. health insurance won’t cover you while abroad. Therefore, at a minimum, we recommended you opt for medical travel insurance when visiting France. Comprehensive travel insurance can also cover other trip costs in case you run into any travel mishaps such as delays or cancellations.

Here are some of the reasons Americans should get travel insurance for visiting France:

The 2024 Summer Olympics

Between the 26th of July and the 11th of August 2024, Paris will host the 33rd Summer Olympic Games. Expect delays, cancellations, and interruptions if visiting France during this period. With over 11,000 competitors and 10 million tickets set to go on sale, the increase in visitors is set to put an added strain on the transportation infrastructure of both Paris and France as a whole.

According to French news outlets, extra security will be a top priority for the game’s organizers and French officials, yet nothing can be wholly guaranteed.

Travel Insurance can cover you for missed connections and travel delays due to reasons out of your control.

Risk of terrorism

Despite the overall chances of attacks being relevantly rare, the US State Department notes there is a risk of terrorism while traveling throughout France’s major cities. Terrorist organizations continue to plan possible attacks on major events and cities across France and other nations. Possible targets often include tourist locations, busy shopping districts, places of worship, and many other public places.

In light of the 2024 Olympics and the recent Moscow attacks by IS, France has raised its terror alert to the highest level. According to the French government, “this threat has never been so strong, France is taking action at every level” to prevent terrorist attacks in France.

Travel insurance often allows reimbursements for cancellations or interruptions to your trip brought on by terrorist threats or attacks.

Risk of pickpockets & robbery

Americans are often targeted abroad by thieves and pickpockets. In France, where English sticks out like a sore thumb, Americans are at higher risk for having valuables stolen. Made world-famous by the Kim Kardashian armed robbery incident frequently visited cities such as Paris are often hubs for rings of thieves that target tourists. Less aggressive actions such as pickpocketing is a common occurrence in France around tourist hotspots and crowded areas like airports, train stations, and subways. It is therefore essential that you follow the US embassy’s advice and keep your valuables secure and out of sight, ensuring you are well aware of your surroundings at all times.

Travel insurance can reimburse you for stolen, lost, or damaged personal items while you are traveling.

France’s recent ban on short domestic flights

As we can see across US media outlets, in 2022, France initiated a legal ban on some short domestic flights. This legislation states that there is a ban on flights where journeys are possible in less than two-and-a-half hours by train. This being the case, it is important that you are aware of your travel plans and selected routes beforehand. The increase in travelers using the rail network to make their journey may also increase train delays.

Travel insurance can cover you if you are delayed or miss your connections due to force mayeur.

French workers’ strikes

As the LA Times has frequently documented, France is famous worldwide for its strikes. While this is not necessarily a bad thing, it can leave you in a predicament if your transportation is interrupted or canceled due to a strike. Travel insurance can easily cover delays, missed connections, or cancellations and interruptions to your travel itinerary. Highlighted by Euronews, workers at the state-owned public transport company have announced a seven-month strike notice from February to September, 2024. This is highly likely to affect those traveling via France’s bus and metro network.

Travel insurance can reimburse you and help you rebook or reroute if your trip is affected by strikes, such as having your flight cancelled due to a pilot strike.

That said, here are some of our recommendations for the best travel insurance for France.

Best France travel insurance plans according to us

Advertiser Disclosure

Best Rated Travel Insurance

Full Policy Details

Tin Leg

4.6
GET A QUOTE via Squaremouth’s secure website
Preferred Plan
Gold
Covers COVID
YES
Medical & Evacuation Limits Per Person
$500,000 / $500,000
Why We Like It

Editor's take

Seen as one of the best-rated travel insurance providers on the market, all of Tin Leg’s policies have an A- rating or higher and are particularly praised for their financial strength. One of the most highly-rated policies is the Gold policy. Tin Leg’s Gold policy comes with both trip cancellation and interruption coverage for a myriad of medical instances.

Tin Leg’s Gold policy offers $500,000 coverage for both emergency medical expense protection and emergency medical evacuation, covering you should the worst happen during your French vacation. Gold policyholders may also qualify for travel delay protection and baggage insurance coverage.

PROS

  • Excellent primary coverage for medical expenses
  • High limit for emergency evacuation coverage
  • Optional cancel for any reason (CFAR) coverage available
  • Comes with coverage for hurricanes and inclement weather
  • Coverage for pre-existing conditions is available if purchased within 14 days of the trip deposit

CONS

  • Baggage delay coverage requires a 24-hour waiting period
  • Low coverage limits for baggage and personal effects

Best for Medical Evacutation Coverage

Travel Insured International

4.39
GET A QUOTE via Squaremouth’s secure website
Preferred Plan
Worldwide Trip Protector
Covers COVID
YES
Medical & Evacuation Limits Per Person
$100,000 / $1,000,000
Why We Like It

Editor's take

Travel Insured International’s Worldwide Trip Protector is one of the best plans offered by this provider. This plan’s top highlight is its $1 million worth of evacuation coverage and $150,000 worth of non-medical evacuation coverage - covering you for nearly any evacuation scenario you will find yourself in during your trip to France. Along with its top medivac coverage, the Worldwide Trip Protector plan also includes $100,000 worth of secondary medical coverage.

This plan offers 100% coverage when it comes to trip cancellation and 150% coverage for any trip interrupted. Further added bonuses include $1,500 for trip delays and $500 for baggage delays after just a three-hour delay.

PROS

  • Travel delay coverage kicks in after just six hours
  • Generous $150,000 non-medical evacuation coverage
  • 24/7 emergency travel assistance included

CONS

  • CFAR and IFAR coverage not included
  • Baggage delay coverage only kicks in after 12 hours
  • No rental car coverage

Best Value Travel Insurance

Full Policy Details

Generali Global Assistance

4.34
GET A QUOTE via Squaremouth’s secure website
Preferred Plan
Standard
Covers COVID
YES
Medical & Evacuation Limits Per Person
$50,000 / $250,000
Why We Like It

Editor's take

Generali Global Assistance’s Standard plan offers some of the best value insurance coverage on our list. This plan provides 100% coverage for trip cancellations and 125% of the insured trip cost for trip interruption. For those worried about loss of baggage during their France vacation, the Standard plan comes with $1,000 per person in baggage coverage.

When it comes to the medical side of travel insurance, Generali Global Assistance’s Standard plan provides up to $50,000 in medical coverage and $250,000 in medical evacuation coverage. All this can be purchased with confidence due to Generali Global Assistance’s A rating from AM Best.

PROS

  • Lowest cost of all Generali Global Assistance plans
  • 24/7 emergency travel assistance included
  • Telemedicine included

CONS

  • Lower coverage than other Generali plans
  • Pre-existing conditions are not covered by the Standard plan
  • No coverage for accidental death and dismemberment during on-land travel

Best for Claims Reiumbursement

Full Policy Details

Nationwide Mutual Insurance Company

4
GET A QUOTE via Squaremouth’s secure website
Preferred Plan
Essential
Covers COVID
YES
Medical & Evacuation Limits Per Person
$75,000 / $250,000
Why We Like It

Editor's take

Nationwide’s Essential plan is a popular travel insurance coverage plan for those who want bare-bones travel insurance protection, with a relatively low overall cost This plan comes with up to $250,000 in emergency evacuation coverage and 75,000 in emergency medical coverage. For any trip delays you experience during your France trip, Nationwide’s Essential plan will pay out $150 per day.

Both trip cancellation and trip interruption are covered in the Essential plan, offering 100% worth of trip cancelation coverage and 125% in coverage for trip interruptions. Any losses of baggage and personal effects will also be covered, up to a value of $600.

PROS

  • Comes with a 10-day review period
  • Relatively high limits for medical expenses and emergency evacuation
  • The lowest cost for comprehensive coverage across providers we compared

CONS

  • Baggage delay coverage only kicks in after 12 hours
  • Lower coverage limits than other plans we compared
  • Emergency medical coverage is secondary to your own insurance (when applicable)

Best for Plans for Pre-Exisitng Conditions

Full Policy Details

Cat 70

4.06
GET A QUOTE via Squaremouth’s secure website
Preferred Plan
Travel
Covers COVID
YES
Medical & Evacuation Limits Per Person
$500,000 / $500,000
Why We Like It

Editor's take

The Cat 70 Travel Plan is another plan on our list that offers a high rate for medical coverage, ideal for traveling outside of the US. This plan comes with $500,000 in coverage for emergency medical expenses and up to $500,000 in insurance for emergency medical evacuation. Further benefits include trip cancellation coverage, baggage insurance, travel delay coverage, protection for missed connections, and more.

What makes the Cat 70 Travel Plan stand out from the others on our list is the coverage provided for a pre-existing condition. This pre-existing condition coverage is granted to the policyholder if it is purchased within 14 days of the trip deposit.

PROS

  • High limits for emergency medical expenses
  • Affordable travel insurance with high limits for medical evacuation
  • Includes extras like trip cancellation coverage & baggage insurance

CONS

  • Not available in all destinations

Best Comprehensive Travel Insurance Plan

Full Policy Details

Seven Corners

4.37
GET A QUOTE via Squaremouth’s secure website
Preferred Plan
Trip Protector Elite
Covers COVID
YES
Medical & Evacuation Limits Per Person
$250,000 / $1,000,000
Passport and Plane Ticket

How much is travel insurance for France?

Travel insurance for France can cost as little as $1 per day, depending on the type of plan you choose and other trip factors. Medical-only coverage is always the cheapest travel insurance option, but comprehensive plans with cancellation benefits can also work out to be quite affordable.

As an example, we got several quotes for a month long French vacation set for August 2024, and the average cost was $11.14 per day for comprehensive travel insurance for France.

The table below shows four examples of plans we found using travel parameters for a 35-year-old traveler living in California, who spent a total of $6,000 on their trip, and plans to spend 29 days in France in August 2024

Provider Plan Name Plan Cost Cancellation / Interruption Limits Medical Limits
Tin Leg Gold $302 $6,000/$9,000 $500,000
Cat70 Travel Plan $302 $6,000/$9,000 $500,000
Nationwide Essential $311 $6,000/$7,500 $75,000
Travel Insured Worldwide Trip Protector $373 $6,000/$9,000 $100,000

The average cost of travel insurance for France based on this example is $11.14 per day. At this price, you would receive comprehensive coverage for medical emergencies, trip cancellation, trip interruption, and more.

Please note that these numbers are for example purposes only. Actual plan costs will vary depending on your unique travel parameters and could be cheaper or more expensive.

Is travel insurance necessary for france?

“As a French native, I always advise my foreign friends to consider travel insurance when visiting France. While France is a safe country to visit, you need to be mindful of pickpockets, transportation strikes or demonstrations that happen often.

Since the Charlie Hebdo and Bataclan terrorist attacks in 2015, the country is also on high alert with a plan called “vigipirate” in place. So, I recommend travel insurance just to protect you in case you need to cancel due to these events.

While health care is almost free to French citizens, it does not currently apply to tourists. I recommend taking out a medical health plan. My friend broke his ankle while hiking with us in the Alps, with his travel health coverage he did not have to pay a cent!

Stay safe and enjoy your trip to France :)”  – Kathia Gorius

FIND A PLAN

What does France travel insurance cover?

Travel insurance covers you for any unforeseen circumstances that occur during your trip to France.

To obtain a visa, you’ll need coverage for medical expenses and repatriation costs. Many companies also offer coverage for trip cancellations, trip delays, trip interruptions, lost/damaged baggage, and other problems.

Trip cancellation insurance

Trip cancellation insurance is a type of insurance that protects you in case you have to cancel a trip due to unforeseen circumstances. This type of travel insurance reimburses you for prepaid trip expenses, such as airline tickets and prepaid hotel bookings. It doesn’t reimburse you for expenses you haven’t yet incurred.

Some policies may also provide you with cancel for any reason (CFAR) insurance. With this type of coverage, you can cancel your trip for any reason and get back between 50% and 70% of your prepaid travel expenses.

Trip delay insurance

Trip delay insurance reimburses you for certain expenses associated with travel delays. This insurance only kicks in if you’re delayed while traveling via a common carrier. To qualify as a common carrier, the company must offer its services to the public. Therefore, airlines, bus companies, passenger railways, and ferries all count as common carriers.

If a delay occurs, this type of travel insurance may reimburse you for toiletries, medications, hotel accommodation, meals, and transportation to and from your hotel.

Trip interruption insurance

Trip interruption insurance reimburses you for any unused, prepaid expenses if you have to end your trip early for a covered reason. For example, if you arrive as planned, enjoy a few days in Paris, and then have to leave early due to an emergency evacuation, your travel insurance will cover the unused, nonrefundable hotel fees.

This type of insurance doesn’t reimburse you for refundable expenses, so if you can get a hotel or a travel vendor to issue a refund, your policy won’t reimburse you a second time.

Covered reasons include terrorist attacks, serious illnesses, and injuries, natural disasters, required quarantines, and medical evacuations.

Travel medical coverage

Health insurance is the most important part of your travel insurance policy. To get a visa for this zone, you must have insurance that covers at least €30,000 in medical expenses. Your travel health insurance must also cover the cost of repatriation to the United States if you develop a serious illness or injury during your trip.

Regardless of whether you are staying for 90 days or two, medical problems can appear unexpectedly at any time. Unfortunately, you can’t use your American health insurance in France. This is why it’s really important to purchase a travel medical insurance plan.

Let’s say you break your leg after tripping over your beach towel at Antibes. This type of health insurance will cover X-rays, casting, and other related expenses.

This type of medical insurance covers many illnesses and injuries, including heart attacks, broken bones, and strokes. What it doesn’t cover are pre-existing conditions, which are health problems that developed before you purchased your policy.

Medical evacuation insurance

Medical evacuation insurance covers the cost of transporting you to the nearest adequate medical facility. For example, if you’re visiting Castelnou, a remote village known for its idyllic countryside, you may need to be transported to a hospital several hours away.

If necessary, this type of travel insurance may pay for you to return to the United States for continuing medical treatment, for a family member to come to France to be with you while you’re sick, or for a medical escort to accompany you on your return flight.

Baggage insurance

Even if you make it to your destination as planned, your luggage may not make it with you. Or if it does, it may not be in one piece. Baggage insurance gives you extra peace of mind in these situations. If your policy covers lost baggage, you will be reimbursed for the cost of your missing belongings. If your policy covers damaged baggage, it will cover the cost of replacing covered items. This type of insurance usually has coverage limits, so your policy may limit you to $500 per lost bag or $1,000 for replacing your damaged belongings.

What does France travel insurance not cover?

Travel insurance typically doesn’t cover the following:

Tips for choosing the best travel insurance for France

If you have a European vacation coming up, follow these tips for finding the best travel insurance plan.

1

Use a comparison tool

Comparison tools allow you to view multiple plans and prices before enrolling. You may be able to get comprehensive coverage for a much lower price than if you buy direct.

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2

Decide how much flexibility you need

Some travel insurance plans allow optional add-ons which can allow you more flexibility when you travel. For example, you can often buy Cancel For Any Reason coverage or Interruption For Any Reason coverage which can allow you to to cancel or interrupt your trip whenever necessary and be reimbursed. A comprehensive plan gives you more freedom, but also costs a good bit extra.

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3

Choose your transportation methods carefully

Some travel insurance policies won’t cover trip delays unless you’re traveling via a common carrier. Therefore, if you are delayed while traveling in a rental car or private car, you may not be reimbursed.

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4

Adventure sports may not be covered

You may not be covered for many common adventure sports such as hiking or snorkeling. Review your itinerary to determine if there are any adventure sports planned and be sure to check your plan to see if it covers these.

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Passport and Plane Ticket

France travel information & requirements

The table below provides an overview of entry requirements and travel information for your trip to France from the United States.

Query Information
Tourist visa required? You must obtain a Schengen visa if you plan to stay in France for more than 90 days. You don’t need a visa for trips lasting 90 days or less.
Passport requirements Every U.S. citizen must have a passport that’s valid for at least 90 days following their planned return date.
Local currency Euro
Average 5-year exchange rate EUR 1 = USD 1.1210
Vaccine requirements None
COVID test required? No
Travel advisory level Level 2 Exercise Increased Caution
Emergency services phone number 112
Accepts U.S. health insurance? No
Travel insurance required? Yes, for stays lasting more than 90 days.

Tips for visiting France

COVID-19 restrictions for entering France

France instated a health check system early during the COVID-19 pandemic. That system was removed on August 1, 2022, so you no longer need to provide proof of vaccination, take a COVID-19 test upon your arrival in France, or give authorities a compelling reason for your travel plans.

Reports from the CDC show COVID cases on the rise, therefore you may want to consider having a COVID travel insurance policy lined up in case you or a travel companion falls ill.

Do I need a visa or passport to travel to France?

If you plan to stay in France for longer than 90 days, you’ll need a long-stay Schengen visa. This visa works in France and 26 other countries in the Schengen Zone.

Is France in the Schengen?

Yes. France belongs to the Schengen Area. Under the Schengen Agreement and the Schengen Convention, countries in this zone allow their citizens to cross internal borders without going through border checks. This means you can pass from France to Italy easily, for example. If you plan to visit more than one destination throughout the year, consider an annual travel insurance plan.

Do I need to speak French to visit France?

Although French is the official language of the country, France is a popular tourist destination and is accustomed to hosting travelers from all over the world. English is spoken by many, especially in major cities and at popular tourist spots. This being said it is always advisable to make an attempt to learn some French. This will both adhere you to the local population and make your trip run far more smoothly.

France travel insurance FAQs

Is it worth getting travel insurance for France?

Yes, it’s worth getting travel insurance before you travel to any country in the Schengen area. If you want to stay in this zone for more than 90 days, you’ll need to apply for a Schengen visa, which requires you to purchase travel insurance. Although you don’t need a Schengen visa for trips lasting 90 days or less, it’s still helpful to have insurance coverage for medical emergencies and other unforeseen events.

Am I required to have travel insurance to visit France?

You don’t need travel insurance for trips of 90 days or less. You are required to have travel insurance if you plan to visit a Schengen country for more than 90 days.

Will my U.S. health insurance cover me in France?

U.S. health insurance, including Medicare, doesn’t cover medical costs incurred in other countries. That’s why it’s so important to purchase an insurance policy before your trip.

Can Americans get free healthcare in France?

According to InterNations, you may qualify for coverage through the French national health care system if you plan to stay in France in a “stable and regular manner” for at least 6 months during the year. Otherwise, Americans don’t qualify for free health insurance in France.

Alana Luna (Musselman)
Alana Luna (Musselman) Writer & Content Strategist

Alana Luna (Musselman) is a versatile storyteller with over a decade of writing experience. She is passionate about helping people build their business through unique and engaging content. Some examples of her current freelance projects include building content strategies for small businesses, completing industry research to build case studies, crafting buyer guides and more.

She has a passion and keen ability to simplify complex ideas through storytelling to make it easier for readers to understand hard-to-digest information. As such, Alana’s writing holds strong three principles – content that educates, engages and entertains.

Apart from her contributions to LA Times Compare, Alana has freelanced and ghostwritten for large publications and prestigious brands such as Orbitz, Groupon, Amazon, JCPenney, Walmart and more.

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