Life and disability insurance for expatriates
Abroad, French state protection stops at the border: no more Social Security death benefit, no more disability pension, and often no employer group scheme. International life and disability cover pays a lump sum or an income to your family if you die, and an income if you can no longer work. It is the contract nobody mentions before leaving, and the one people regret not having.
Death benefitFreely chosen, from €50,000 to several million
Permanent disabilityLump sum or income, depending on the degree
Temporary incapacityDaily benefits after a waiting period
Medical questionnaireYes, simplified below certain amounts
Signing up from abroadPossible with several insurers
Employees on local contracts
A local contract almost never includes French-style protection: no death benefit, no education income for the children. Individual international cover rebuilds that base, whatever the employer and whatever the country.
Self-employed and freelancers abroad
Without an employer there is nobody to pay an income when you stop working. Daily benefits and a disability income are the only protection for your business, and for your family if you are the main earner.
Single-income families
When one partner has paused their career to follow the expatriation, losing the main income is not an abstract risk. The death benefit and partner’s income are sized on the years of costs to cover, schooling included.
CFE members
The CFE offers a limited protection option. We check what it really covers in your situation and, if needed, top it up with a private contract to reach the amounts your family would need.
Your questions about this cover.
Am I still covered by French state protection once I have moved abroad?
Usually not. The Social Security death benefit and disability pension require membership of the French scheme, which ends when you leave, unless you are seconded or a CFE member. A French employer’s group scheme also ends with the employment contract. That is the first thing we check with you: what remains, and what is missing.
How large a death benefit should I plan for?
A common benchmark is three to five years of income, adjusted for actual costs: rent or mortgage, children’s schooling, a possible return to France. A €300,000 benefit for a 40-year-old employee often costs between €30 and €60 a month depending on the insurer and health. These are orders of magnitude: the exact quote follows within 24 hours.
Is a medical examination required?
A health questionnaire, yes; an examination only above certain amounts or depending on age, and it can usually be done in your country of residence. A medical history does not close the door: it points to the insurer that accepts it.
Does the contract cover me in every country?
Most international contracts cover the whole world, sometimes with exclusions for conflict zones or certain sports. We check that your country of residence and your business travel fall within the covered zone before you sign.
Can I sign up from abroad, without going back to France?
Yes, with several insurers: the file, questionnaire and signature are handled remotely, and the contract starts on the chosen date. Some require a French address for correspondence; we flag it beforehand.
Reviewed by Mustapha Naït Cherif
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