
Stay healthy in France
a clear roadmap to your coverage
1. Must‑Knows Before Arrival
Visa insurance required: Minimum €37,500 coverage + repatriation.
Already covered?
EU/EEA/Swiss
Get an EHIC (European Health Insurance Card)
UK
Get a GHIC (Global Health Insurance Card)
Andorra
Use S1 / SE130
Everyone else
Buy private travel insurance until you're in the system.
2. Registering with Assurance Maladie (Sécurité Sociale)
Submit:
•
Visa/long-stay permit
•
French IBAN
•
Birth certificate (official French translation)
•
Enrollment certificate
•
Passport or ID
Processing time:
Carte Vitale: up to 12 months
Temporary social security number: 2 weeks – 2 months
3. While You Wait
Keep private insurance active to avoid gaps.
Collect and save all feuilles de soins (paper forms from doctors/pharmacies).
These are required for retroactive reimbursement once your Vitale arrives.
4. Once You're Covered
Order your Carte Vitale on Ameli.fr/app
Register your family doctor (médecin traitant)
— boosts reimbursement rates.
At appointments:
Pay upfront; get 70–100% reimbursed later
Present Carte Vitale or coverage certificate
5. Add a Mutuelle (Complementary Insurance)
Covers:
🦷
Dental
👓
Optical
🧠
Psychology
🏥
Extra hospital fees
Cost:
Full plans: €70–80+
Compare:
MGEN
AXA
Alan
Heyme
Expat&Co
6. Costs & Reimbursement Examples
Service
Cost
Reimbursed
GP visit
€25
~€17 (70%)
Specialist
€30–60
~70%
Hospital stay
€1200–3000/day
Mostly covered by sécurité sociale + mutuelle
Tier 2+ = additional charges not fully reimbursed
Tier 1 doctors = no extra fees
7. Other Health Services
Mental Health
Direct access to therapists also available (with upfront payment)
Covered partially with referral + mutuelle
EHIC:
Once you get your Vitale, request EHIC to use coverage while traveling in the EU.
8. FAQ Highlights
Delayed Carte Vitale?
Still covered retroactively.
Lost documents?
Contact CPAM (your local social security office).
Language support?
Call 3646 → ask for English hotline
Need help with paperwork?
University Help Desks often assist with document prep & calls
9. Toolkit Downloads
Printable checklists (Before Arrival, After Arrival, Mutuelle Comparison)
Provider contact sheets
Sample filled-out forms