Frequently Asked Questions: Why is temporary health insurance less expensive than expat health plans?

As its name implies, temporary health insurance is usually designed for temporary stays. These plans can usually be purchased for periods ranging from 1 to 12 months, and renewed in accordance with the conditions of the insurer.

The difference in price between the two types of insurance can be explained by several key points which you should consider closely before subscribing:

- The limited coverage of expenses:

Temporary plans only cover expenses arising from unexpected accidents or illnesses occurring after the start date of the insurance. The wording can differ slightly from one plan to another, but in general all this insurance is the same: it only covers care that absolutely cannot wait to be performed in the country of origin.

- The fixed duration of the plan:

Although most temporary plans can be renewed, insurers stop being liable on the end date of the insurance. This means that in order to renew, the insured person must retake all the medical tests and/or complete another health questionnaire. The insurer can subsequently refuse the renewal or limit the insured person's coverage for any reason whatsoever.

Here are a few examples to illustrate the limitations of temporary plans:

- A child comes down with gastroenteritis. The temporary plan reimburses expenses such as the consultation, treatment, potential hospitalization in the case of severe dehydration, etc. On the other hand, the check-ups and vaccinations of an infant by a pediatrician are not covered.

- A woman discovers a suspicious lump under her breast. The temporary plan reimburses the appointment with the gynecologist, as well as any additional examinations that may be conducted, but will not cover an annual check-up with the same gynecologist.

- You break a bone in your leg (open fracture). The temporary plan will cover the emergency hospital expenses and the surgery to stitch up the leg. On the other hand, it won't cover any rehabilitation-related expenses (or very few), especially if other operations are needed for you to regain full capacity of your leg. These operations are not covered because the plan considers they can wait to be carried out in your country of origin.

- You find out that you have cancer a month before the end of your plan. An emergency operation is prescribed, followed by radiation and chemotherapy. The costs incurred for the tests and operation will be reimbursed, but all the other costs will only be covered until the end date of the insurance. If you try to renew your plan at this time, your application will be denied. In principle, you will be returning to your country of origin on the end date of your insurance. The problem is that once you get home, how will you be covered? For a French citizen who returns to France, Social Security only offers coverage after 3 months. Will you be able to wait 3 months for your treatment?

Temporary plans are therefore only advantageous for temporary stays of less than one year. They are also often useful for longer stays, but come with restrictions that can prove to be extremely dangerous. An expatriate health insurance plan with no time restrictions is therefore a much safer bet.