KN Patrimoine & Assurances

English-speaking insurance broker in Paris 16

KN Patrimoine & Assurances is an insurance brokerage firm at 10 rue de la Pompe, 75016 Paris. We help people who have moved to France, or who divide their life between France and another country, understand how French insurance works and compare policies from several insurers.

The rest of our website is in French; meetings can be held in English.

Who we are

KN PATRIMOINE ET ASSURANCES is registered with ORIAS, the French register of insurance intermediaries, under number 25009835 as a courtier en assurance (insurance broker). You can check this registration yourself on orias.fr.

As a broker, we are not tied to a single insurer. We compare contracts from several insurers and explain the differences that matter: what is covered, what is excluded, the waiting periods and the cost. Our work is limited to insurance contracts; we do not give tax or legal advice.

How French health insurance works for newcomers

Sécurité sociale and PUMa

Anyone who works in France, or lives in France in a stable and regular way, is covered for health costs under the Protection universelle maladie (PUMa). If you do not work in France, rights generally open after three months of residence. Nationals of countries outside the European Economic Area and Switzerland also need a valid residence permit. Once registered with Assurance Maladie, you receive a social security number and, in time, a carte Vitale.

The public system reimburses only part of the cost of care. The rest, together with any extra fees charged by some doctors (dépassements d'honoraires), is yours to pay unless you have additional cover.

Complémentaire santé (top-up health insurance)

A complémentaire santé, often called a mutuelle, pays some or all of what Assurance Maladie does not. Many private-sector employees join their employer's group plan. If you are self-employed, retired or between jobs, you choose one yourself. The useful comparison is not the monthly premium alone but the cover for hospital stays, dental care, glasses and lenses, and specialist fees.

The CFE, if you keep French cover while abroad

If you leave France, the Caisse des Français de l'étranger (CFE) is a voluntary scheme that provides cover modelled on the French Sécurité sociale while you live abroad. It can be used alone or combined with a private policy that pays on top of it. Joining before you leave, or within three months of settling abroad, avoids a waiting period.

International health insurance

Private international health policies cover care from the first euro, worldwide or in the zones you select, and usually include medical repatriation. They suit people who move between countries or whose home-country cover stops when they leave. Before signing, compare the geographical zone, the annual ceilings, the waiting periods and the exclusions, especially for pre-existing conditions.

Life insurance (assurance vie) and the PER

Despite its name, French assurance vie is mainly a long-term savings contract. Money can be invested in a euro fund, where the insurer guarantees the capital net of fees, and in unit-linked funds, which carry a risk of capital loss. The beneficiary clause decides who receives the capital on death, so it deserves careful wording.

For residents and non-residents alike, the tax treatment of withdrawals and of payments on death depends on your country of tax residence, your age when you paid in, and any tax treaty between France and that country. Some insurers also restrict new contracts or new payments for residents of certain countries. We explain how a contract works and check these restrictions; the tax analysis of your own case belongs to a tax adviser.

The plan d'épargne retraite (PER) is a retirement savings plan. Voluntary payments can be deducted from your taxable income in France, within annual limits, which is only relevant if you pay income tax in France. At retirement, savings are paid as a lump sum, as a life annuity, or as a mix of both. Before retirement, money can only be released in specific cases set by law, such as buying your main home or disability. Moving abroad is not one of them, which matters if you may leave France later.

Income protection and disability (prévoyance)

French public benefits for sick leave and disability exist, but they often replace only part of your income. The gap is usually wider for the self-employed, liberal professions and higher earners. A prévoyance policy fills it: daily allowances during sick leave, a pension if you become disabled, and a lump sum for your family if you die.

The details make the difference: the waiting period, how disability is assessed (against your own profession or in general) and exclusions such as back or mental-health conditions.

Mortgage insurance (assurance emprunteur)

French lenders almost always require borrower insurance covering death and disability before granting a mortgage. You are not obliged to take the bank's group policy: you can choose another insurer, as long as the guarantees are equivalent to those the lender requires.

Under the loi Lemoine (law of 28 February 2022), you can change your mortgage insurance at any time, not only on the anniversary date. The same law removed the health questionnaire when the insured share of your home loans does not exceed €200,000 per person and the loan ends before your 60th birthday.

How a meeting works

  • Book a slot on our appointment page (in French: pick a date and time) or call us on +33 1 89 72 42 54.
  • Meet us in English, at our office at 10 rue de la Pompe, 75016 Paris, or by video call. The first meeting is free and without commitment.
  • We review your situation: residence, work, family, existing cover in France and abroad.
  • We compare policies from several insurers and explain the options in plain English. Contract documents issued by French insurers are generally in French; we go through them with you.
  • Once a contract is in place, we stay your contact for changes, claims questions and reviews.
10 rue de la Pompe, 75016 Paris
Monday to Friday, 9 am to 6 pm
Video meetings for clients elsewhere in France or preparing a move

Further reading (in French)

Our detailed guides are written in French. These are the most useful ones if you are new to France or moving abroad:

Frequently asked questions

Can I meet you in English?

Yes, at our office in Paris 16 or by video call. The first meeting is free and without commitment.

Is your whole website available in English?

No. This page is our English introduction; the rest of the website, including our guides, is in French.

Do I need a complémentaire santé if I am covered by the Sécurité sociale?

It is not compulsory for individuals, but Assurance Maladie only reimburses part of the cost of care. A complémentaire santé covers some or all of the rest, depending on the level you choose.

Can I keep a French life insurance policy (assurance vie) if I leave France?

In general, yes: moving abroad does not end the contract. Its taxation then depends on your country of tax residence and any tax treaty with France, and some insurers limit new payments from certain countries.

Can I change my mortgage insurance in France?

Yes. Since the loi Lemoine, you can replace your borrower insurance at any time, provided the new policy offers guarantees equivalent to those your lender requires.

What exactly is KN Patrimoine & Assurances allowed to do?

We are an insurance broker (courtier en assurance) registered with ORIAS under number 25009835. We compare and arrange insurance contracts: health, life insurance, insurance-based PER, income protection and mortgage insurance. We do not provide tax or legal advice.

Talk to us in English

Tell us where you live and what cover you already have.