Travel Insurance for France
GHIC, EHIC, and what your policy actually needs to cover for a French gite holiday.
Travel insurance is one of those things you hope you never need — but when you do, nothing else comes close. A medical emergency in France without insurance could cost tens of thousands of pounds. A cancelled flight or a stolen bag is stressful enough without the financial hit on top.
The good news: France is one of the safest and most accessible countries to visit, and travel insurance for France is straightforward and affordable. Here is what you need to know.
GHIC and EHIC — Free Healthcare in France?
The Global Health Insurance Card (GHIC) — which replaced the old EHIC after Brexit — entitles UK residents to state-provided medical treatment in France on the same terms as French residents. It is free and you should definitely get one before you travel.
But it is NOT a replacement for travel insurance. Here is why:
GHIC covers
- State hospital treatment
- Doctor (medecin) visits (70% of cost reimbursed)
- Prescriptions (65% reimbursed)
- Emergency treatment
GHIC does NOT cover
- Repatriation to the UK (medical flights cost 10,000+)
- Private hospital treatment
- The 30% you still pay for state treatment
- Cancellation, delays, or lost luggage
- Mountain rescue or air ambulance
- Dental emergencies (beyond basic)
Our advice: Get your free GHIC (apply at nhs.uk — takes about a week to arrive), AND buy proper travel insurance. The GHIC reduces what your insurer has to pay, which can speed up claims and avoid excess charges.
What Your Policy Should Cover
Medical expenses — minimum 2 million
This is the most important part of your policy. Medical repatriation alone can cost 15,000–50,000. Most decent policies offer 5–10 million medical cover.
Cancellation cover
Should cover the cost of your gite booking if you have to cancel due to illness, bereavement, or other covered reasons. Check the cancellation reasons carefully — not all policies cover the same things. Make sure your gite booking cost is within the cancellation limit.
Personal belongings
Covers theft or loss of luggage, electronics, and valuables. Check the single-item limit — many policies cap individual items at 200–300, which may not cover a laptop or camera. Consider specifying high-value items.
Activity cover
Standard policies cover normal tourist activities. If you plan to ski, cycle, canoe, or do anything adventurous, check it is included or add it as an upgrade. Skiing cover is usually an add-on. Water sports and climbing may need specialist cover.
Driving cover
If you are driving to France (most gite guests do), make sure your policy covers road traffic accidents, personal injury as a driver, and does not exclude self-drive holidays. European breakdown cover is separate — see our driving guide.
Special Considerations for Gite Holidays
Long stays
Standard travel insurance typically covers trips up to 31 days. Staying longer? You need an extended trip policy or annual multi-trip cover. Some specialist providers offer policies for stays of 3–12 months.
Over 65s
Premiums rise with age and some providers have upper age limits. Specialist providers like Staysure and AllClear cater specifically to older travellers and those with pre-existing conditions. Declare everything — an undeclared condition invalidates your entire policy.
Pre-existing conditions
You must declare all pre-existing medical conditions. Failure to do so will void your policy entirely. Many conditions can be covered for a small additional premium. Use a comparison site that includes medical screening.
Annual multi-trip
If you visit France more than once a year (or travel anywhere else), an annual multi-trip policy is almost always cheaper than buying single-trip cover each time. Most cover unlimited trips with a per-trip duration limit of 31–45 days.
If Something Goes Wrong in France
| Emergency services | 112 (or 15 for medical, 17 for police, 18 for fire) |
| Doctor (GP) | Walk into any cabinet medical or call SOS Medecins (house calls, 24/7). Typical cost: 25 euros. GHIC reimburses 70%. |
| Pharmacy | French pharmacies (green cross sign) can diagnose minor ailments, recommend treatment, and dispense many medicines without prescription. Open daily, with a pharmacie de garde system for nights/weekends. |
| Hospital (A&E) | Go to Urgences at any hospital. Treatment is excellent. Present your GHIC on arrival. |
| UK consular help | British Embassy Paris: +33 1 44 51 31 00. Consulates in Bordeaux, Lyon, Marseille. |
Plan your French holiday with confidence
Insurance sorted, crossing booked — now find the perfect gite.