International private medical insurance (IPMI), simply explained.

IPMI — International Private Medical Insurance — refers to health insurance contracts designed for people whose lives don't fit within a single country: expatriates, executives constantly on the move, international families, residents of countries whose public system doesn't cover all their needs.

Unlike a French mutuelle, an IPMI contract does not top up a base regime: it reimburses from the first euro. It's a standalone contract that directly covers medical expenses incurred in the covered country or countries.

Typical scope includes medical and surgical hospitalisation, day-to-day medicine, maternity, dental, optical, assistance and repatriation. High-end contracts add mental health, prevention, assisted reproduction, and access to an international network of leading clinics.

Three criteria set the good contracts apart: geographic area covered, overall annual ceiling, and the quality of the direct-billing care network. On all three, an independent broker plays a decisive role: comparing the contracts on the market and selecting with you the one that truly fits your life.