If you hire an aircraft in France they usually include a level of insurance with the membership (I've never succeeded in hiring without some form of joining fee), this can equal the cover you've bought at home sometimes. Interesting if with UK bought cover, all private flying risks are covered as I've been told "no" to some activities and had to go elsewhere.
In the US, hirers are often impractical with the cover they extend, eg no runways of less than 4000' -- for a 172, so its useful to have belt and braces sometimes.
Hanna.