Travel Insurance for France

Know more About Travel Insurance

One of Europe's crown jewels and the most visited country in 2023, France, officially the French Republic, is a European country divided into Metropolitan France and Overseas France. Metropolitan France lies in Western Europe and comprises 82% of its land area and nearly 96% of its population, while Overseas France is composed of 13 territories. 

Metropolitan France shares its borders with Belgium and Luxembourg to the north, Germany to the northeast, Switzerland to the east, Italy and Monaco to the southeast, Andorra and Spain to the south, and a maritime border with the United Kingdom to the northwest. 

Whether it is the iconic skyline of the Eiffel Tower, the love for bread, wine, and cheese, the French cuisine, historic towns, or even its movies, all of these make France one of the most popular cultures and countries in the world, attracting millions of tourists each year. 

However, if you are planning a trip to France in 2025, you must purchase travel insurance for France. Here is all you need to know for a fun, fulfilling, and secure trip to France in 2025.

Travel Insurance for France From India

Before starting their journey to France, travellers must note that France is part of the Schengen area. Any traveller seeking a Schengen visa must mandatorily secure their trip with travel insurance for France and other Schengen member states and at least €30,000 of medical coverage. 

Travel insurance is a risk management system and a contract between an insurance provider and the policyholder designed to protect the policyholder from several risks when travelling. Typically, these risks consist of medical and non-medical travel-related events and certain miscellaneous risks, such as personal liability for damage or injury caused during the trip or for compassionate visits.

Why Do You Need Travel Insurance for France?

The primary reason anyone needs a Schengen visa is that France, as one of the Schengen countries, has mandated that all travellers buy travel insurance as an entry requirement. Travellers know there are several reasons why buying travel medical insurance in France is recommended to secure their trip. Here is a list of some key reasons you need international travel insurance for France from India. 

1. France travel insurance is a mandatory requirement for a Schengen visa.

2. Foreign travel is expensive, and bearing the financial implications of certain risks can result in significant financial loss. 

3. Going outside the norm of daily routine can expose the traveller to increased risk.

4. Although France is relatively safe, it is recommended that you opt for travel health insurance France from a reliable provider that covers numerous medical risks, such as medical emergencies, medical evacuations, personal accidents, and repatriation of mortal remains, when visiting the country. 

What are Some of the Key Benefits Offered by Travel Insurance in France?

Purchasing travel insurance for France from a leading insurer such as Niva Bupa has several benefits. While some benefits are tangible, such as the high scope and extent of coverage, comprehensiveness of the policy, and competitive pricing, there are also intangible benefits, such as reliability and the peace of mind of having a safety net to fall back on during times of need. 

Here is a list of some of the key benefits offered as a part of Niva Bupa’s France travel insurance:

• Niva Bupa offers travellers a simple, convenient, and affordable way to secure their France trip with France travel insurance.

• Coverage of up to $500,000 under France travel insurance.

• Niva Bupa provides 24/7 assistance to travellers with travel insurance in France in any emergency.

• The policy covers policyholders from expenses incurred due to medical emergencies, personal accidents, COVID-19, medical evacuation, repatriation, pre-existing diseases during emergencies, and more.

• Students with student travel insurance for France are also covered for additional risks, including 100% coverage for pre-existing diseases, study interruption coverage, sponsor protection, dental treatment, maternity expenses, and more.

• Travellers are also covered for non-medical risks, such as lost checked-in baggage or essential documents like passports and visas, missed connecting flights, trip delays, interruptions and cancellations, and personal liability.

What is Covered Under the France Travel Insurance?

What first thought comes to mind when someone thinks of insurance? Most likely, the terms would be the claim limit in the form of a sum assured or the list of coverages. This is because while the sum assured determines the amount up to which an individual can claim settlement, the list of coverages determines the specific coverages under which the traveller can claim settlement in the first place. Knowing and remembering to avoid any last-minute hassle and issues when requesting a claim is essential. 

Consider risks such as pre-existing medical conditions or participating in adventure sports, typical exclusions in most policies. Any claim due to these risks will not be settled. However, it is possible to claim settlement for these risks by opting for an adventure sports add-on or looking for a policy with coverage for pre-existing conditions. 

Here are some of the critical coverages offered by Niva Bupa to secure travellers from both medical and non-medical risks:

Delay or loss of checked-in baggage: 

This coverage offers partial or complete reimbursement for significant delay or loss. 

Missed connecting flight:

This coverage reimburses you for the extra accommodation and travel costs to reach the next destination if you miss a pre-booked connecting flight due to the original flight running late. 

Loss of passport: 

This coverage reimburses you for the cost of applying for a new passport if the original is lost.

Dental treatment:

This coverage reimburses a pain-relieving dental treatment availed under anesthesia. 

Trip delay, cancellation, interruption: 

These three separate coverages offer reimbursement for part of the travel and accommodation costs if your travel is delayed, canceled, or interrupted due to certain conditions mentioned in the policy document. 

Medical emergency (hospitalisation): 

This coverage offers reimbursement for the cost of medical treatment.

Emergency outpatient treatment: 

This coverage reimburses any emergency treatment under OPD. 

Medical evacuation: 

This coverage reimburses the transfer cost from one hospital to another if the primary hospital does not offer appropriate care. 

Emergency trip extension: 

If the trip is extended due to certain exceptional circumstances, this coverage offers an extension of the policy up to 7 days. 

Personal accident: 

This coverage pays a portion up to the sum insured for accidental death or disability.

Repatriation of mortal remains: 

This coverage reimburses you for the cost of transporting the mortal remains of the traveler or the cost of cremation in the city/country of death.

In addition, travellers can also find additional coverage if they opt for student travel insurance, which offers several student-specific coverages, such as sponsor protection, study interruption, and complete pre-existing disease coverage, in addition to what is mentioned above.

What is Not Covered Under the France Travel Insurance?

As mentioned above, travellers must consider the exclusions or what is not covered in addition to the inclusions to determine the policy with the best coverage for their needs. For example, they could opt for adventure sports coverage as an add-on or not participate in certain activities to avoid the risk of claim rejection.

Here is a summary of the exclusions listed by Niva Bupa for convenience:

• Treatment for any injury or illness resulting from nuclear or radiological emissions, war or rebellion, and specific acts of terrorism.

• Active participation in military exercises, war games, or engagement with the enemy.

• Any loss or injury due to committing or attempting to breach the law with criminal intent. 

• Expenses for cosmetic or plastic surgery or any treatment to change appearance, including obesity or weight control programs. Unless in certain circumstances as listed in the policy document.

• Maternity expenses.

• Non-prescription or unproven drugs or treatments.

• The provision of fitting hearing aids, spectacles, or contact lenses, including optometric therapy, any treatment, and associated expenses for alopecia, baldness, wigs, or toupees, and medical supplies, including elastic stockings, diabetic test strips, and similar products.

• If the insured person is travelling against the advice of a doctor or is receiving or on a waiting list for specified medical treatment.

• Death, injury, medical condition, or disability resulting from suicide or attempted suicide, self-inflicted wound or illness, consumption of alcohol or drugs, and depression.

• Countries with travel restrictions for Indians.

• Medical tourism.

• Damages due to adventure sports unless part of coverage.

• Expenses related to any admission specifically for diagnostics and evaluation purposes that are not related or incidental to the current diagnosis and treatment.

Please note that this list is just an excerpt from the policy document. Reading and assessing the exclusions when purchasing a policy is crucial to avoid any last-minute surprises and hassles.

Who Should Buy Niva Bupa Travel Insurance for France?

All travellers seeking the best travel medical insurance for France should consider a reliable insurer that offers comprehensive coverage at cost-effective prices. This coverage includes several benefits, such as emergency services for pre-existing conditions, trip extensions, personal accidents, medical emergencies, personal liability, and more.  

With all these coverages and many others, Niva Bupa ensures confidence and peace of mind for its policyholders. Whether you're purchasing a policy in minutes or using just a few clicks for a hassle-free and efficient claims process, including cashless claims at certain foreign hospitals, Niva Bupa is one of the best options for travellers.

What are the Eligibility Criteria for France Travel Health Insurance?

As a traveller looking to secure their trips with travel insurance, one of the first steps is to note and be aware of any eligibility criteria and requirements to qualify for international travel insurance. Here is a list of requirements to qualify for travel health insurance in France from Niva Bupa:

• Adults should be between the ages of 18 and 70.

• Dependent children can be from 1 day old to the age of 25.

• Travellers must possess and furnish mandatory documents like copies of passports, visas, income proof, and other relevant papers.

How to Buy Travel Insurance France Online?

Buying the best travel insurance France has never been easier; whether it is online availability, convenience, removing the middleman, or cost-effectiveness, buying it online is the best way. Here are the steps you can follow to buy one of the best travel insurance for France:

1. Enter Your Mobile Number to start the process.

2. Add Trip Details: Select either Single-Trip or Student Travel Insurance and choose your destination(s), including France.

3. Select Travel Dates: Ensure accuracy, keeping in mind time zone differences for international travel.

4. Enter Traveller Ages: Enjoy a 10% discount when insuring two or more travellers.

5. Choose Coverage Amount: From $50K to $500K.

6. Select your policy type: Lite, Basic, Comprehensive, or Honeymooners.

7. View Summary: Review plan details, sum insured, travel dates, trip duration, destination, and number of travellers.

8. Provide KYC Details: Review policy terms and give consent for Niva Bupa Health Insurance to download your KYC.

9. Add Personal & Medical Details for all travellers.

10. Make the Payment: Your policy copy will be emailed instantly.

Once the policy is purchased, the policy document will be sent over immediately via the registered Email ID.

When to Buy France Travel Insurance?

The best time to buy travel insurance is when the flight tickets are purchased and accommodation is reserved. However, as France requires travel insurance for the Schengen visa and it must be mentioned in the application form, it is recommended that you purchase the policy before applying for the visa. 

In addition to this, it is recommended that the policy be purchased as soon as possible. One of the key benefits of travel insurance is trip cancellation coverage, which offers compensation/reimbursement for non-recoverable expenses paid in advance to book flights and accommodation. This coverage, however, is only applicable from the start of the policy, which is why it is essential to be covered by insurance to receive compensation for this loss. 

What are the Factors Affecting the Premium of Travel Insurance France?

If you have ever bought travel insurance, you might know that the premium is dynamic and depends on a number of different factors. Here is a list of key factors influencing the premium charged for France travel insurance. 

• Traveller's age 

• Travel destination 

• Trip duration

• The comprehensiveness of the plan opted for 

• Type of travel such as single-trip, student, domestic/international, etc.

• Number of travellers

• Insurer offering the policy

What You Need to Know About Filing a Claim for Travel Insurance in France

Travellers who need to file a claim settlement request for travel insurance can do so easily with Niva Bupa. There are several ways to request a claim settlement from Niva Bupa. Refer to the following methods for a quick and hassle-free claim process.

1. To file a France travel insurance claim, you first need to contact your insurer, Niva Bupa. 

2. You may also contact the global third-party administrator if you are travelling overseas.

3. You can raise a claim for travel insurance online, through mail, or even physically. You can do so both while overseas or when you return to India.

4. You must submit a duly filled claim form along with the required documents based on the type of claim—for example, loss of baggage, trip cancellation, medical emergency, or death.

Besides this, one can make two types of claims in the case of a medical emergency. 

Cashless Claim

Niva Bupa is partnered with Europ Assistance, a global third-party administrator, to provide cashless claims to hospitals and healthcare centres worldwide.

• The customer intimates the claim to Europ Assistance via a toll-free number or email. 

• The TPA-Europ Assistance will contact the customer and provide them with the required France travel insurance details.

• Europ Assistance will then initiate the GOP (Guarantee of payment) process with the hospital where the customer will receive treatment.

• Europ Assistance will request the documents from the hospital or the customer and, after assessing the claim, send them to Niva Bupa for approval/rejection/query/investigation.

• Our medical team will approve the claim by e-mail.

• The GOP will be released to the hospital as per the amount claimed.

• The hospital will contact the Europ Assistance team if any additional amount is required.

• At discharge, documents will be sent to Europ assistance and approved accordingly.

• After discharge, the hospital will send the documents to Europe Assistance for settlement to the hospital.

Reimbursement Claim 

Mandatory Documents Required for Reimbursement Claims

1. Claim form
2. KYC
3. Cancelled cheque of the proposer
4. Discharge summary 
5. Final bill along with break-up
6. Payment receipt
7. All investigation reports 

France Visa Details and Entry Information

As with any country, France offers different visas for different travel requirements. For example, travellers seeking education must obtain a national study visa. Similarly, travellers looking to work in France must get a national work visa and travel insurance for France work permit. In addition to these visas, France also recognises the Schengen visa due to its membership in the Schengen area, an airport transit visa for transit requirements, and a general national visa. The easiest way to visit France is by availing yourself of a Schengen visitor visa from the French Embassy or visa authority.

Note: If you already have a Schengen visa by applying for any other country, it is possible to visit France using the same visa. However, please check the visa expiration date and any specific details as well to ensure a hassle-free trip.

Navigating the France Visa Application Process with Ease

Navigating the France visa application process is quite simple, as this is the same process for any other Schengen country. Here are some of the key visa application details to consider when applying for a French visa: