Travel Insurance Claim After a Death in France — UK Policyholder Guide

Call the Insurer's Emergency Line Immediately

This is the single most time-sensitive step after the medical and police notifications. Policies can set their own notification requirements, so contact the insurer's 24-hour emergency assistance line immediately rather than waiting.

When you call, have ready:

• The policy number
• The deceased's full name and date of birth
• The date, location, and circumstances of the death
• The name and contact details of the hospital, hotel, or police station involved

If the policy includes repatriation coverage and the claim is approved, the insurer may appoint a specialist international funeral director to manage logistics in France. This appointment is valuable — it means someone with experience in French death administration, transit permits, and cross-channel transport is coordinating the process on your behalf, subject to the policy terms and any excess.

What Travel Insurance May Cover

Coverage depends on the policy wording. A policy with repatriation cover may pay for:

• Repatriation of remains — embalming, zinc-lined coffin, transit permits, and transport (air or road) back to the UK, subject to the policy's limits and approval
• Local funeral costs, essential travel, cancellation, and curtailment — these benefits vary by policy, so confirm the wording before committing to a local funeral or travel arrangements

Policies vary significantly in coverage limits. Check the policy schedule for the specific limits before making decisions about repatriation method (road vs air) or local funeral options.

The Cause-of-Death Problem

This is where many claims stall. UK insurers routinely require documentation of the cause of death before releasing payouts — especially if the policy includes life insurance or personal accident components alongside the travel cover.

The French acte de décès deliberately omits the cause of death. This is a feature of French medical privacy law, not an oversight. The document records only the identity of the deceased and the date, time, and location of death.

To satisfy the insurer, you need a separate medical attestation (attestation médicale) from the certifying doctor at the hospital or clinic. This document confirms the medical cause and circumstances. Request it at the time of death — retroactively obtaining it after the hospital file has been archived ranges from difficult to impossible.

If the death was subject to a judicial investigation (suspicious, violent, or accidental), the autopsy materials may contain cause-of-death information, but access is controlled by the public prosecutor. Ask a French lawyer or consular staff what information can be released and when.

What to Watch For in the Policy Terms

Policy exclusions. Check the wording for suicide, accidental-death, and pre-existing-condition exclusions. Without cause-of-death documentation, the insurer may delay or deny the claim while they investigate.

Pre-existing condition exclusions. If the deceased had a medical condition that was not declared when the policy was purchased, the insurer may argue the death is related and exclude the claim. Medical records from the French hospital become relevant here.

Time limits for notification. Follow the policy's notification deadline. Late notification can affect a claim depending on the wording, so contact the insurer promptly.

Excess and co-payment. Check the policy schedule for any excess or co-payment that the family must pay directly.

If There Was No Travel Insurance

If the deceased did not have travel insurance, or the policy does not cover repatriation, the family bears the full cost. Repatriation from France to the UK typically costs £3,000 to £6,000. Check whether the deceased held:

• A credit card with travel insurance — premium cards (Amex Platinum, Visa Infinite, Mastercard World Elite) often include repatriation coverage when the trip was booked on the card
• An annual travel insurance policy — sometimes separate from the trip-specific policy
• Employer-provided cover — if the deceased was travelling for work
• A death-in-service benefit through their employer — this does not cover repatriation but may help with overall costs

The FCDO cannot pay for repatriation under any circumstances. They can provide reference lists and help coordinate with local authorities, but the costs fall to the family or the insurer.

Our complete guide includes an insurance claim checklist, the exact documents each type of insurer needs, and a template for requesting the medical attestation from the French hospital.