Keeping your health insurance after leaving: portability and the Evin law

When your employment contract ends, you can keep your company's supplemental health insurance in two stages. First, portability: the same coverage, for a period equal to your unemployment benefits, up to a maximum of 12 months. Then, you can continue coverage individually, at your own expense, and request this no later than 6 months after the portability period ends.

Portability only covers healthcare costs, not disability insurance. Upon retirement or in the event of a disability or incapacity pension, the time limits run from the end of the employment contract.

This page describes the rules of the Service-Public fact sheet verified on November 26, 2025, which discusses the "Evin Law" scheme. It does not provide the actual contribution amount or the cost of portability. It does not address the situation of people leaving France, nor does it compare different offers.

Three situations, three timelines

Portability: conditions and operation

You are eligible for number portability if you meet all of the following conditions:

1. You have joined the company's supplementary health insurance plan; ;
2. Your employment contract was terminated for a reason other than gross misconduct; ;
3. Termination of the contract entitles the individual to unemployment insurance benefits.

Here's how it works.

• Beginning. It begins on the date of termination of the employment contract.
• Duration. It is equal to the period of unemployment benefits, up to the duration of your last employment contract or, where applicable, "the last employment contracts when they are consecutive with the same employer". It cannot exceed 12 months.
• Proof of identity. You must provide proof to the health insurance provider that you are covered by the unemployment insurance scheme.
• END. You must inform the insurance provider when benefits cease. Benefits also cease if you take up a new job that ends your compensation.
• Rights holders. It applies under the same conditions to your beneficiaries "who benefit from the guarantees on the date of termination of the employment contract".
• Extent. You retain the company's mandatory group health insurance coverage. This only covers healthcare costs, not life and disability insurance.

This page does not provide the cost of portability: this must be verified with your health insurance provider.

After portability: individual support (Evin law)

At the end of the portability period, your insurer will send you a proposal to maintain your coverage on an individual basis. This will be done no later than two months after the end of the portability period. To take advantage of this offer, you must submit your request no later than six months after the end of the portability period.

This service is individual and requires payment. The information sheet specifies that this contract is not time-limited.

Rates are capped during the first few years. The point of comparison is the overall rate for active employees, i.e., employer and employee contributions:

The document also states: "Fees cannot exceed the overall rates by more than 50%." The same capping rule appears in the sections dedicated to job seekers, retirees, and disability or incapacity pensions.

Upon retirement, or with a disability or incapacity pension

If you retire, your insurance provider will send you an individual offer to maintain your coverage no later than two months after the end of your employment contract. You must request this service no later than six months after the end of your employment contract.

If you are receiving a disability or incapacity pension and your employment contract has ended, the insurance provider will also send you an individual offer to maintain your benefits no later than two months after the end of your employment contract. The application must be submitted no later than six months after the end of your employment contract.

For these two situations, the sheet describes the same cap on rates as for job seekers: rate equal to that of active people in the 1st year, maximum 25 % higher in the 2nd year, maximum 50 % higher in the 3rd year, amount freely set from the 4th year.

Where does the company mutual insurance come from?

Private sector employers are required to offer group supplementary health insurance to their employees, with some exceptions. Their financial contribution must be at least 50% of the premium.

Some employees may be exempt from joining upon request, for example, those on fixed-term contracts or temporary assignments of less than 3 months, or those working part-time up to 15 hours per week. Portability of coverage, however, requires prior enrollment in the company's supplementary health insurance plan.

Three books to avoid

1. To believe that portability lasts 12 months in all cases. Its duration is equal to that of unemployment benefits, up to the limit of the duration of the last contract. Twelve months is a maximum.
2. Waiting without asking for anything. After the portability period ends, individual coverage continuation requests must be submitted within 6 months. The health insurance provider's offer may arrive up to 2 months after the end of the portability period; however, the application deadline begins from the end of the portability period.
3. Confusing healthcare costs with insurance. Portability only applies to healthcare costs.

Numerical example (fictitious profile)

Situation. An employee's contract ends on January 31, 2027, excluding gross misconduct. Her last employment contract lasted 24 months. She is receiving unemployment benefits for 8 months. The total cost of the company health insurance plan for an active employee, including both employer and employee contributions, is €80 per month. These figures are hypothetical.

Issue. She wants to know the key dates and the maximum cost of maintaining her individual coverage for 3 years.

Strategy. The firm reviewed with her the schedule and the proposal received from the mutual insurance company.

Result.

Based on the asset's current rate for 3 years, the total would be €2,880 (36 × €80). The maximum difference over the period is €720. This profile is hypothetical: the dates are in calendar months, and the amounts illustrate the mechanism without predicting the outcome for your specific situation.

What changes depending on your situation

• The reason for termination of the employment contract, in particular gross misconduct.
• The right to unemployment insurance and the duration of compensation.
• The duration of your last employment contract.
• Your situation: job seeker, retiree or recipient of an incapacity or disability pension.
• The terms of your health insurance contract and the proposal they send you.

These factors determine what applies to you. No results are guaranteed: the rule will be verified on your case.