Going to the doctor in France with the European health insurance card
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The European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) guarantees access to health care under the same conditions as French citizens. Since there is a health co-payment in France, the traveler will have to pay part of the health care costs: doctor’s visit, medicines, hospitalization, transportation, etc. Upon presentation of the corresponding documents, these will be partially reimbursed to the patient. To avoid medical expenses and other costs resulting from other typical travel incidents, such as cancellation of reservations, hasty return, flight delays and cancellations, or loss of luggage, it is necessary to take out travel insurance.
Travel insurance for travel to france
The Social Security allows foreign students to have social security coverage while studying in France. In order to have more health expenses covered, they can subscribe to a complementary health insurance or mutuelle, mutuelle.
Universities have a health service: the Service universitaire de médecine préventive et de promotion de la santé (SUMPPS – University Service for Preventive Medicine and Health Promotion). There you can receive medical consultation. Some consultations are free of charge, especially those related to contraception, diagnosis, vaccination, nutrition and even psychological follow-up.
If you have questions about sexuality, love relationships or contraceptive methods, do not hesitate to contact Planning familial (family planning), an association that offers free and confidential consultations. In particular, women can receive a prescription for a suitable contraceptive method and obtain the morning-after pill, if necessary. Planned Parenthood has offices throughout France.
International travel insurance
But the list of places to visit in France is extensive so, if your schedule allows it, spending several weeks touring the country will be a good idea. But what do you need to know about this destination that is as close as it is seductive? Do you need health insurance to travel to France? And what about travel insurance? If you are thinking of making France the backdrop for your vacation, here are a few key points.
As you can see, unlike the national health system, health care in France is not 100% free. Co-payment is a widespread practice, with singularities for residents that, in the case of tourists, also apply. One of the main recommendations for anyone planning to travel to France and belonging to the Schengen area member countries is to apply for the European Health Insurance Card (EHIC).
This document gives the holder access to the health benefits he or she may need during the course of his or her trip (regardless of the reason for the trip), under the same conditions as any other French citizen. What does this mean? Well, if a French citizen has to pay for certain medical services or consultations, the holder of the EHIC will have to do the same.
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Medical assistance in France is of high quality, and the Social Security covers a large part of it, so it is advisable to travel to France with a medical insurance, either the European Health Insurance Card for travelers belonging to the member countries of the European Union, or the corresponding medical insurance for the rest of the countries.
In France, both the population and travelers can go to a medical center when they are sick, or to a private doctor who works for the Social Security. In both cases, the Social Security covers 70% of the assistance. The rest must be paid by the patient. Normally, when you go to the doctor, you must pay about 20 euros, which remains 6 euros once you apply to the CPAM for reimbursement, for which you must not forget to ask the doctor for a signed sheet with the treatment received (feuille de soins).
Tourists from the European Union can apply for the European Health Insurance Card, in force since 2004 (previously Form E-111), in order to receive free health care. It guarantees emergency coverage for short trips and will soon also cover temporary stays by students and workers. To apply for it, the traveler must go to his or her medical center or to the Social Security.