State medical aid: changes in access conditions and entitlements

The demand

The applicant for the AME must now reside in France for at least 3 months from the expiry of his visa or residence permit.

For a first application, he must download a new form and, from 17 February 2021, personally deposit it at the reception of a health insurance organization. This new approach makes it possible to verify his physical presence in the territory by comparing his identity with that declared in the application file. Due to pandemic health measures, first applications can be mailed until February 16, 2021.

The cost of care

Since 1^er January 2021, some elective care and treatment is not provided until 9 months after admission to the AME for any new beneficiary or for those who have not received the AME for more than a year.

However, there are exceptions for both hospital and community care. To benefit from it, the person must request a prior agreement with the medical service of the Health Insurance: the health professional must then fill in the new advance request form.

AME entitlements start from the day the application file is filed (even if incomplete). Since 1^er January 2021, in the case of hospitalization or non-urgent care prior to the application, fees can however be opened retroactively: they then take effect on the date of entry into the institution or on the date of care, if the AME application was filed within 90 days of the date of hospitalization or care.