MSH Health & Life insurance for Expats & complementaire CFE-FR
An international insurance solution for every expat situation
Paris-headquartered international health insurer with 50 years' history, a subsidiary of the Diot-Siaci Group — 6 regional service centres, a 1.8 million+ medical provider network, and 24/7 multilingual support for individuals, families, IOs/NGOs and corporates across Vietnam and ASEAN.
MSH International
Paris-headquartered international health insurer with 50 years' history, a subsidiary of the Diot-Siaci Group — 6 regional service centres, a 1.8 million+ medical provider network, and 24/7 multilingual support for individuals, families, IOs/NGOs and corporates across Vietnam and ASEAN.
Every insurer in this directory is reviewed on an ongoing basis by our advisory board against 5 professional criteria — Reliability, Benefits Value, Flexibility, Pricing, and Admin & Claims. Insurers are re-rated as regulations, reinsurance backing, and claims behaviour change, so what you see here reflects our current standing recommendation, not a one-time listing.
No single insurer fits every risk
We represent more than 25 insurers precisely because medical, vehicle, home, factory/office, and professional liability cover each reward a different kind of underwriter. An insurer we rate highly for expat medical cover may not be who we'd recommend for a factory property policy. This profile tells you what MSH International is — and isn't — the right fit for.
How MSH International scores on our 5 criteria
Scored out of 5 on each criterion. See the full methodology for how we assess reliability, benefits, flexibility, pricing and claims handling across all partner insurers.
Reliability
50 years of operating history, backed by the Diot-Siaci Group, one of Europe's largest insurance broking groups, with regional service centres in Paris, Calgary, Dubai and Shanghai providing round-the-clock oversight.
Benefits Value
Access to a 1.8 million+ medical provider network, plus bundled extras — teleconsultation, a dedicated maternity programme, and preventive health check-ups — that go beyond bare hospitalisation cover.
Flexibility
Eight distinct individual plans (First'Expat+, Start'Expat, LifePlan'Expat, neoExplore, neoStudents, neoWHV, neoTempo, Relais'Expat+) built for different life stages and mobility situations, plus separate corporate and IO/NGO tracks.
Pricing
Positioned as a solid mid-market option — not the cheapest generalist nor the most premium, sitting comfortably in the middle of the directory on cost for the breadth of cover offered.
Admin & Claims
Six claims departments worldwide with 24/7 availability and a dedicated MSH mobile app for managing claims and services, though members should expect a French-headquartered claims process rather than a fully localised Vietnam claims desk.
50 years designing international health cover
MSH International was founded in 1974 in Paris and has grown into one of the longer-established names in international health insurance, now operating as a subsidiary of the Diot-Siaci Group, one of Europe's largest insurance broking and consulting groups. MSH runs six regional service centres — including Paris, Calgary, Dubai and Shanghai — providing 24/7 multilingual support, and gives members access to a network of 1.8 million+ medical providers worldwide. The company serves individuals, families, key accounts and mid-cap companies, international organisations and NGOs, and also acts as a third-party administrator (TPA) for other insurers.
For individuals, MSH offers a genuinely wide product range built around different life stages and mobility situations — from First'Expat+ for those settling abroad long-term, to neoStudents, neoWHV for working holidaymakers, and neoExplore for younger travellers. Members get access to the MSH mobile app, teleconsultation, a dedicated maternity programme, and preventive health check-ups. Pascal's own records note MSH also distributes French life insurance and pension products for French nationals through partners such as Groupama Gan Vie.
Regulation & financial backing
- MSH International is a subsidiary of the Diot-Siaci Group, a major European insurance broking and consulting group formed by the 2021 merger of Diot and Siaci Saint Honoré.
- Head office: Season, 39 rue Mstislav Rostropovitch, 75815 Paris cedex 17, France; client servicing and claims run from 23 allées de l'Europe, 92587 Clichy cedex, France.
- Hospitalisation and evacuation pre-authorisation is arranged through Europ Assistance, MSH's dedicated 24/7 emergency assistance partner.
Who we recommend MSH International for
Ideal client profile
Individuals, families, students and working holidaymakers who want an established insurer with a genuinely large medical network and a plan built for their specific life stage, rather than one generic policy stretched to fit everyone. Also a strong fit for international organisations, NGOs and their staff, and for insurers themselves needing a TPA partner in Asia. Less suited to clients who want the single cheapest quote or the single most flexible modular plan on the directory — MSH is a steady all-rounder, not a specialist at either extreme.
First'Expat+
For those relocating abroad for 1 year or more with a clearly defined project — MSH's core long-term expat health plan.
LifePlan'Expat
For expatriates who want to plan every detail — the most comprehensive individual plan in the range.
Relais'Expat+
For those abroad 1+ years who want MSH cover alongside their CFE (Caisse des Français de l'Étranger) benefits.
Start'Expat
For people over 36 heading abroad for several months — a mid-length option between short trips and full relocation.
neoStudents
Built for students studying abroad, at a price point suited to a student budget.
neoWHV
For working holidaymakers on a WHV visa, wherever their working holiday takes them.
neoExplore
For adventurers under 36 exploring the world, before a longer-term expat move.
neoTempo
For would-be expatriates who want to try living abroad before committing to a longer-term relocation plan.
Common questions about MSH International
Sourced and paraphrased from MSH's own site and Pascal's records of their Vietnam contact details — answered here in the context of clients based in Vietnam.
Which MSH plan is right for me?
It depends on your situation: First'Expat+ suits a defined long-term relocation, LifePlan'Expat suits those who want maximum detail and cover, Start'Expat suits older applicants going abroad for a few months, and neoStudents, neoWHV and neoExplore are built specifically for students, working holidaymakers and younger travellers respectively.
Is MSH only for French nationals?
No — MSH covers clients of many nationalities, though it has a particular specialism in French expat health, life and pension products, including plans designed to complement CFE (Caisse des Français de l'Étranger) cover for French citizens abroad.
What happens if I need hospitalisation?
Contact Europ Assistance, MSH's dedicated 24/7 assistance partner, for pre-authorisation and a letter of guarantee before a planned hospitalisation or evacuation — this is what triggers direct billing with the hospital.
How do I manage my policy day to day?
Through the MSH mobile app and your online Members' Area, which bring together claims, documents and services like teleconsultation in one place, alongside 24/7 phone support from one of MSH's six regional claims departments.
Does MSH cover companies as well as individuals?
Yes — MSH runs separate tracks for key accounts and mid-cap companies (from 1 to 50+ globally mobile employees), for international organisations and NGOs, and also acts as a third-party administrator (TPA) for other insurers.
Who underwrites MSH's plans?
MSH International is a subsidiary of the Diot-Siaci Group and designs its plans with various insurance and assistance partners — for French life and pension products distributed through MSH, for example, the underwriter is Groupama Gan Vie.
Reach MSH International or your advisor
For a hospitalisation or evacuation, contact Europ Assistance first for pre-authorisation and a letter of guarantee — this is what allows direct billing with the hospital. MSH's regional claims desk for Asia sits in Shanghai; there is no separate MSH claims office in Vietnam, so route routine questions through your InsuranceinAsia advisor first.
