For expats, the rules for getting health insurance across Europe vary greatly. There are some broad similarities, but the differences from country to country are important.
In this article, we’re going to guide you through the processes in three popular European expat locations so you can better understand how to access insurance if you’re moving abroad.
France
Healthcare in France is based on the very French principal of solidarity. All residents are entitled to universal healthcare, including expats who live and work in France.
There are two routes for expats to take to get access to healthcare in France, but both take time and you may need to factor in private cover for at least six months.
The first route is being a French citizen. To obtain citizenship, you’ll need to have lived permanently and continuously in France for five years, or you can gain citizenship through marriage to a French national.
Alternatively, you need to hold a valid residence permit or have taken the steps required to get one. This can be complex, but if you’re employed then the process is automated after six months. Read our article on applying for visas and residency in France for more information.
When you’ve completed that, you’ll be able to benefit from French health insurance. The French system covers up to 70% of medical costs, so it isn’t completely free for residents. You may choose to take out private insurance to cover the remaining 30%.
Germany
Unlike France, healthcare in Germany is a legal requirement for all citizens. Ever since the country reformed the process in 2009, all citizens are eligible for health insurance, with some caveats.
Firstly, if you earn over €66,000 per year, you have the option to get private insurance instead of national cover. The same is true if you’re self-employed or freelance.
Otherwise, as soon as you are employed in Germany, you’re automatically enrolled on public health insurance. This is paid out monthly through an automatic deduction in the form of a tax. This covers almost all of your medical expenses, and half will be paid by your employer by default.
The only exceptions are a €10 fee for your first visit to the doctor every quarter, and any stay fees for a hospital.
If you’re self-employed, you can opt into public healthcare which involves paying the required social contributions. These come to about €160-190 per month.
However, retiring to Germany is quite tricky. You need to obtain a residence permit, which can be hard to come by without the purpose of work. If you do this, you’ll need to pay for your healthcare cover, much like a self-employed worker.
Spain
The common thread thus far is that most European countries offer some form of universal healthcare, and Spain is no different.
As a popular destination with expats that offers a variety of migration pathways and incentives, healthcare is very simple, and is very similar to Germany.
If you are employed in Spain, you’re automatically registered for public health insurance. You don’t even have to pay for a visit to the doctor, or any hospital stays.
This is because a portion of your paycheck goes directly towards social security, which is used in tandem with government funding to allow universal healthcare.
This even extends to family members. If you’re eligible for it, so are your partner, children, siblings – anyone in your immediate family.
However, the registration process is slightly different. You’ll need to obtain your social security number from the Tesorería General de la Seguridad Social (the Social Security Treasury) and ensure you pay your social security contributions. If you do this, you’ll be eligible for public healthcare.
For retired expats, you can opt into public healthcare, but it does come with a monthly fee of €65, or €157 if you’re over 65.
Private healthcare is also available, should you feel the need to rely on it. However, almost everything (bar prescriptions, prosthetics and dental care) is covered by national insurance, so it may not be necessary.
Currency exchange as an expat
If you’re an expat living overseas, it’s likely you’ll need to exchange currencies. This may be to purchase a property, transfer pension payments, or send money back home to loved ones.
Here at Currencies Direct, we can help you save money when you transfer funds overseas, thanks to our award-winning service and range of transfer options.
For example, you can use a forward contract to secure the current exchange rate for up to a year. By locking the rate in, you can budget more accurately.
You can also set a limit order, which targets a higher exchange rate. If the market reaches this level, we’ll automatically transfer your funds.
We always offer highly competitive exchange rates and never charge transfer fees, and as a customer you’ll have a dedicated account manager on hand to give you personalised support.
Get in touch with our team through email via [email protected] or call +44 (0) 20 7847 9400.
