Why do I need travel insurance for France?
When travelling, there is always a risk of accident, illness, or falling victim to a crime, so protecting yourself with an appropriate travel insurance policy can spare you from headache and heartache.
This is especially true with France, which shares no Reciprocal Health Care Agreement (RHCA) with Australia. If you’re uninsured, you’ll have to fork out the cash to pay for any medical treatments. While the standard of healthcare available is high, so is the cost of treatment.
Some rural areas in France suffer from a shortage of doctors or medical facilities. If you find yourself in dire need of medical treatment, you may have no other choice but to be evacuated to a city centre for quality care, which can easily set you back by thousands of dollars.
In addition, France is also notorious for its high level of pickpocketing and bag snatching in public spaces. Without insurance, the cost of replacing your stolen belongings is your sole responsibility. When selecting a travel insurance policy, you may want to consider the potential costs that come with stolen, lost, or damaged luggage and travel documents.
A travel insurance policy could give you that peace of mind as you sample the finest that French patisseries have to offer, free from worry.
How do you choose the right travel insurance for France?
There’s no ‘perfect’ travel insurance policy for every single holiday to France, so travellers should always prioritise the level of cover they need or want.
Selecting the cheapest policy may not afford you the appropriate level of protection.
For example, a basic insurance policy’s features are often restricted to medical expenses and public liability costs. However, you may find yourself losing out on cover for things like loss of baggage or personal belongings, and sudden cancellation costs, which a comprehensive policy can offer for a higher price.
Some comprehensive policies may also offer cover for specific adventure activities as a listed inclusion. Alternatively, they may sell them as optional add-ons.
If your plans mostly consist of high-risk snow sports, such as snowboarding and skiing in the French Alps, a comprehensive policy (or the extra add-on) may be well worth the asking price. All of this information can be found on each policy’s Product Disclosure Statement (PDS).
A good start is to use Canstar’s travel insurance comparison tool to compare quotes for policies that suit your needs.
What does travel insurance for France cover?
When taking out travel insurance for France, you can generally expect that you’ll be covered for the following:
- Medical or dental emergency: Hospital admission, emergency care and medical evacuation.
- Repatriation: Repatriation covers the cost of flying your body and belongings back home to Australia. Some travel funds also include a separate sum for funeral expenses.
- Lost or stolen luggage, passport or other items: Reimbursement for the cost of replacing luggage and travel documents.
- Cancelling your trip unexpectedly: Due to illness, accident, revoked holiday leave, or a natural disaster at home or at your intended destination.
- Legal liability: If you break a local law and need a lawyer/interpreter.
- Optional extras: Some policies may offer optional extras such as rental vehicle excesses, cover for kennels and catteries for your pets at home, and even cover if you suffer a loss of income or a permanent disability while overseas
What isn't covered by travel insurance for France?
Travel insurance doesn’t cover everything. It is always important to know what your policy does not cover. Some common exclusions and things that could void your insurance include:
- Irresponsible behaviour under the influence of drugs or alcohol
- Pre-existing conditions you were aware of before purchasing your policy that you failed to disclose.
- Unattended items
- Claims that weren’t lodged with your provider within 24 hours
- Reckless behaviour
- Driving a motorbike without a licence or helmet.
How much does travel insurance cost for France?
At the time of writing, the average cost of travel insurance premiums is $169 for a traveller aged 30, on a 14-day trip to France (based on a selection of international policies rated in Canstar's 2025 Travel Insurance Star Ratings & Awards, November 2025, calculated October 2026).
A more comprehensive policy, including cover for skiing and snow sports, will cost more. Prices for policies will vary depending on the provider and level of cover and inclusions that you need, as well as your age and circumstances. You can compare travel insurance with Canstar to find cover that suits your particular needs and budget.













































