There are many reasons for moving on European territory: the tourist attractiveness of the countries, their university facilities and international exchange programs to study abroad, the thirst to discover a new culture, to learn another language , a taste for adventure, a temporary job… For example, almost 50,000 students were able to benefit from the Erasmus program in 2017, a figure that continues to increase each year, as does intra-European tourism.
This exceptional period that we are going through with COVID-19 and subsequently the decision to take containment measures, unfortunately reminds us of how essential it is to insure in the event of unforeseen circumstances, illness or accident when traveling to France. foreigner.
In June 2004, the European Union implemented the European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) in order to simplify administrative procedures and ensure the coverage of medical care in Europe. The card provides access to health care during a stay abroad in a European country for all persons affiliated to a social security system in an EU country.
What is the European Health Insurance Card (EHIC)?
Since January 1, 2016, anyone who works or resides in France on a stable and regular basis has the right to have their health costs covered by Social Security. Depending on the scheme to which the person is affiliated (general scheme, social scheme for the self-employed, agricultural social mutuality, special schemes, etc.), the reimbursement methods may be different.
The Vitale card certifies your affiliation and your rights to health insurance. It contains all the administrative information necessary to cover the rights of the insured. From the age of 16, each person receives their personal Vitale card on which their photo appears. Note that it is also possible to request it for children over 12 years old.
In the event of temporary stays (travel, business trips, linguistic, cultural stays, etc.) in Europe, the European health insurance card takes over from the Vitale card to cover costs and their reimbursement. Unlike the Vitale card, each member of a family must have one, including children.
This coordination agreement for access to the public health system applies to the 27 member countries of the European Union: Germany, Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Cyprus, Croatia, Denmark, Spain, Estonia, Finland, France, Greece, Hungary , Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Slovak Republic, Czech Republic, Romania, United Kingdom (at least until December 31, 2020, during the transition period) and the Sweden. It extends to the 4 member states of the European Free Trade Association (EFTA) which are Norway (except for the Svalbard archipelago), Iceland, Liechtenstein and Switzerland.
For nationals of a third country, that is to say not belonging to the European Union (EU), the European Economic Area (EEA) and Switzerland, the EHIC cannot be used during temporary trips to Denmark, Iceland, Norway, Liechtenstein or Switzerland.
The validity period of the European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) in France is 2 years. The deadlines vary according to the Country. If the duration does not cover your entire stay, it will be useful to anticipate the renewal of the European health insurance card two months before the expiry date (notified on the back of the card) on your Ameli account, section "my steps".
It is important to note that in the event of a prolonged stay abroad you risk losing your rights to French social security. The period of validity of your EHIC, like that of your children, cannot exceed the duration of your rights to health insurance.
A lost, stolen European insurance card, what to do? Thanks to the Ameli account, you can report the loss or theft online and the new EHIC will be automatically ordered and renewed. You can also make your declaration by telephone by dialing +33 184 90 36 46 from abroad.
What is the European health insurance card used for?
How does Social Security work abroad? What does the European Health Insurance Card actually cover? Do the procedures for reimbursement of expenses take place under the same conditions for all member countries?
Here are the answers to these questions:
Thanks to the CEAM, access to the public health system will be guaranteed in the country in which you are staying. Unexpected or urgent care will be covered, but also chronic or pre-existing illnesses, pregnancies and childbirth . If you travel to receive scheduled care, you must submit a request for reimbursement using the form "Portable document S2: Right to scheduled care" from your health organization.
Please note that depending on the laws and formalities in force in the country of stay, the reimbursement methods for treatment differ.
In some cases, the insured will not have to advance medical expenses. A part remaining at your expense, known as the user fee, could possibly be paid on site as well as "daily fixed price" costs in the event of hospitalization. Be also vigilant with excess fees charged which may not be reimbursed.
In other cases, the service is chargeable, you will have to pay in advance. The reimbursement request can be made on site with the competent social security body in the host country. For hospitalization abroad , a discharge form issued by the hospital services will be necessary.
You can also make your file to be reimbursed on return to France with all the supporting documents, accompanied by the cerfa form n ° 12267 * 04 "Care received abroad".
It is strongly recommended not to go abroad without a European health insurance card . Take the example of hospitalization for urgent care without being provided with the precious card, you may have to advance several thousand euros. In this situation, remember to keep your paid invoices that you must attach to your reimbursement request, as well as the S3125 “Care received abroad” form with your health insurance fund.
How to get your European health insurance card?
Obtaining an EHIC card, being entitled to health insurance and receiving medically necessary care is very easy. Indeed, the card is free, individual, nominative and very easy to obtain from the health insurance organization. There are many ways to apply for a European health insurance card. As accessible as it is, it is necessary to anticipate the request for the card a few days before your departure for the host country.
How to apply for the EHIC?
Applying for a European card by Internet: from your Ameli account , provided with your social security number and your secret code. If you have forgotten the password, with your Social Security number and your date of birth, a temporary code will be sent to you via the email address you entered when creating your Ameli account. An Ameli application for smartphones and tablets is also available. From the home page, a tab "My steps in 2 clicks" offers you to order the card.
Multi-service terminals are also available to you at the reception points of the primary health insurance funds (CPAM). To find out the location of your terminal nearest to you, on the Ameli website, enter your postal code.
You do not have Internet access and cannot move around. Contact one of the advisers by phone at 3646 with your Vitale card, from Reunion, dial 0 811 300 974, from Guadeloupe, dial 0 810 103 646, from Martinique, dial 0 820 222 555, from abroad, dial +33 811 70 36 46. You can also request it by mail.
In view of its great accessibility and its free admission, it would be a shame to do without the EHIC for each member of the family. You will thus benefit from health cover for your stays within the European Union and possible coverage without advance of costs in the event of hospitalization.
The deadline for obtaining the European health insurance card
Even if only 2 clicks are enough to order the card, the CPAM will tell you that your card will be sent to you within 10 days. But really, how long to have the European health insurance card? For more caution, it is recommended to anticipate at least 20 days before your departure (minimum 15 days).
Imminent departure and you have not received your EHIC card, what to do? A provisional replacement certificate for a period of three months can be requested from your primary health insurance fund. This is an online document to download in your personal space.
Can I go abroad only with my European health insurance card?
Faced with the increase of more than 5.4% in global tourist flows in 2018, the report of the National Center for Care Abroad (CNSE) reaffirms the crucial need to consolidate the conditions for supporting this mobility.
Unfortunately, many situations today demonstrate the importance of additional travel insurance.
Indeed, the EHIC does not cover repatriation assistance, private care, so-called comfort costs (single room, television, telephone, etc.), or even all of the health costs incurred in certain countries. The remaining charge can be very high. The European card issued gives you the right to health insurance within a specific framework (as a reminder: unexpected medical care, emergency). In certain cases, your mutual health insurance may possibly cover part of the costs depending on your level of cover indicated in your contract.
Before your departure, it is essential to check the state of coverage of your health insurance within the framework of a trip in particular in the European Economic Area.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs also invites travelers to have an assistance contract or travel insurance to cover all health and repatriation costs.
French social health protection is one of the most competitive within the EU. France devotes 9.1% of GDP to expenditure on sickness and health care against 8.1% allocated of GDP for the European average. According to the 2018 report from the Directorate of Research, Studies, Evaluation and Statistics (DREES), the out- of-pocket costs of households as a proportion of health expenditure are relatively low in France with 6.8% compared to other countries like Spain (24.2%), Portugal (27.7%), Greece (35.5%) and Latvia (41.6%). The quality of French social security service is exceptional, which is far from being the case in the majority of EU countries.
For some countries, additional travel insurance is therefore strongly recommended for a temporary stay in view of the very high costs of intervention, rescue and hospitalization.
Note that if you are a national of a country outside the European Union and you travel in the territory of the Schengen area, i.e. the 4 member countries of EFTA and the member countries of the '' EU with the exception of Bulgaria, Cyprus, Croatia, Ireland, Romania, United Kingdom, for a maximum period of 90 days, the Schengen visa will allow you to move freely in each Member State of this territory . If you intend to visit a State or several States of the Schengen area, for holidays, a professional project, a business trip, a cultural or sporting event, for medical reasons, for studies and research (etc. .) and you must apply for the Schengen visa. A Schengen visa insuranceis compulsory in the context of a Schengen visa application with a minimum coverage of 30,000 euros to cover in particular emergency medical costs and assistance in the event of repatriation.
As you may have discovered, the EHIC has many advantages when traveling within the European Union. The easiest way is to always have it with you whenever you travel outside your country of residence. However, it is essential to also know the limits of the EHIC. It will not always be sufficient to cover your health costs abroad. It also does not cover assistance services (such as repatriation) and even less damage accidentally caused to others (Civil liability). So remember to supplement your coverage with good travel insurance to leave truly protected!
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