Reimbursement of care abroad (holiday or short stay)
Verified 13 March 2024 - Directorate for Legal and Administrative Information (Prime Minister)
In the European Economic Area, Switzerland or the United Kingdom
You are planning a temporary stay (weekend, holiday, cultural or linguistic stay, studies, internship, job search or business trip) in one of the European Economic Area (EEA) countries, Switzerland or the UK? The European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) allows care in the country of stay to be paid under the same conditions as a social insured person in that country.
Please note
The EHIC is not a payment card. She can be used Denmark, Iceland, Norway, Switzerland or Liechtenstein only if you are european (EU/EEA/Switzerland).
The EHIC guarantees care in the country of stay under the same conditions as a social insured person in that country. For example, it could be an appointment with a doctor, a dentist, in the hospital.
The European Commission explains how to use the EHIC in different countries.
The presentation of the EHIC (or your provisional certificate) avoids special procedures in the country of stay.
Thus, you can receive medical care according to the rules and formalities that apply in the country of stay:
- Either you don't have to advance medical expenses
- Either you have to pay the medical expenses in advance and you get reimbursed on the spot by the social security agency of your place of stay.
Warning
Health systems vary greatly from one European country to another. Some services can be free in France, but paid for in other countries. Before leaving, find out more about the health care system of the country you are visiting.
Covered care
The EHIC covers:
- Medically necessary care
- Chronic or pre-existing diseases
- Pregnancy
- Delivery.
Being able to present the EHIC saves you from having to return to your country of usual residence earlier than planned to receive the necessary treatment.
Warning
The purpose of your stay should not be to benefit from care. So it shouldn't be scheduled care.
Care not covered
Private care is not covered. You can only submit the EHIC for health care provided by providers in the public system.
If you receive private care, you can ask for a refund once you return to France, in accordance with the tariff in force in France. Some health insurance companies pay for health care expenses abroad.
The EHIC does not allow covering the costs of any medical treatment you have scheduled in one of the European Economic Area (EEA) countries or in Switzerland.
This map is not travel insurance. If you wish to be repatriated free of charge in case of serious illness or accident in another EU country, you must subscribe to a separate insurance.
Example :
You're French. You go to Italy to ski. During your holidays, you injure your knee. You must be rescued by Italian rescue services. Back in France, you receive a very high bill for your rescue. You have to pay the full bill, as search and rescue costs are not covered by the European Health Insurance Card.
Settlement arrangements
You benefit from taking according to rules applicable in the country of stay.
If the benefit is free for the insured in the country, it will also be for you. You won't have any money to advance. You may have to pay the user fee (part of the fees you will pay).
If the benefit is paying, you will need to make an advance payment. You can claim refund:
- Or on the spot at the competent sickness insurance institution of the country of stay. The care takes place according to the social legislation and formalities in the country concerned
- Be back in France. You must keep the invoices and proof of care and present them to your health insurance organization, accompanied by the form cerfa no. 12267. You have the choice between being reimbursed on the basis of the rates of the French Social Security or the rates of the country of stay.
FYI
If you did not ask for reimbursement of your medical expenses during your stay, you can therefore present the invoices and the proof of payment to your affiliation fund upon your return to France.
General scheme
If you have a Ameli account, you can request the reimbursement of this care online.
You need to go to your Ameli account under My efforts then Reimbursement for care abroad.
Agricultural arrangements
If you're at home MSA, you must contact her for the refund.
You must pay the full cost for care received in the country of stay in the following cases:
- You forgot your EHIC
- Your EHIC is no longer valid
Regardless of whether care is provided in the public or private sector, you must keep all invoices and supporting documents.
As soon as you return to France, you must present them to your health insurance organization to be reimbursed.
The form cerfa no. 12267 must also be completed and provided.
FYI
Some health insurance companies pay for health care expenses abroad.
If you have an Ameli account, you can request the reimbursement of this care online.
You must go to your Ameli account under “ My efforts ” then “ Claiming reimbursement for health care abroad ”.
Other country
You are planning a holiday abroad (outside European Economic Area (EEA)/Switzerland/UK)? Take precautions to be insured if you become ill. Before your departure, you should inquire about the state of health of the country and any medical expenses that may be borne by you. In some countries, care, especially hospital care, is very expensive. It is therefore prudent to be covered by an insurance or assistance contract.
FYI
The French embassy or consulate of the country visited can put you in touch with a doctor approved by its services. Consular authorities can also provide you with a list of French-speaking or specialized doctors.
General case
If you are receiving care abroad you must pay for medical expenses on the spot. It doesn't matter whether it's hospital care or not, whether it's public or private.
Please note
There are exceptions (example: Andorra and the Gabon where care can be provided by the foreign fund, under certain conditions).
You must keep the proof of health expenses and present it when you return to the health insurance fund, accompanied by the form cerfa n°12267.
Care received abroad - Declaration to be completed by the insured
Your French health insurance fund can take care of the unannounced care (hospital or ambulatory) you have received.
You may or may not be reimbursed for your treatment, after checking your situation and within the limits of the flat rates applied in France.
FYI
This refund may be supplemented by mutual.
If you have an Ameli account, you can request the reimbursement of this care online.
You need to go to your Ameli account.
Get reimbursed for care done abroad from Ameli account
Warning
For the fund concerned, this is a possibility of taking over, not an obligation.
In case of refusal of reimbursement, no challenge is possible.
You are a national of the country you are visiting
Before leaving, you must ask your sickness insurance fund the following information:
- If there is social security agreement between France and the country of which you are a nationaland if it is applicable to you. A number of agreements concern only employees and members of their families. Moreover, the majority of them do not apply to foreigners who have dual nationality (Franco-Algerian or Franco-Malian for example)
- If you have any formalities to complete. In some cases, you have to submit to the health insurance organization of your country of origin specific forms submitted by your French fund
If you enter into the scope of the agreement between the two countries, you will be able to benefit from the care of your health care on site, according to the rates in force in your country of origin.
In the event of a work stoppage, you may also be entitled to daily allowances, under the conditions laid down in the agreement.
If you do not fall within the scope of the agreement signed between the two countries, you must pay your medical expenses on the spot if you get sick.
If the country has not signed an agreement with France you must also pay your medical expenses on the spot.
You must keep the invoices and your payment documents and present them, upon your return to France, to your health insurance fund, accompanied by the form cerfa n°12267.
Care received abroad - Declaration to be completed by the insured
If you have an Ameli account, you can request the reimbursement of this care online.
You need to go to your Ameli account.
Get reimbursed for care done abroad from Ameli account
After checking your situation, your cash register will eventually refund your costs within the limits of the rates applied in France. This is an option for your fund, not an obligation.
In case of refusal of reimbursement, no challenge is possible.
It is therefore advisable to hold a insurance or assistance contract when you travel abroad, care, especially hospital care, can be very expensive in some countries.
Who can help me?
Find who can answer your questions in your region
Center for European and International Social Security Liaison (Cleiss)
General information on social security abroad and assistance with individual applications
By telephone
+33 (0) 1 45 26 33 41
Hotline:
- Monday from 9 am to 12:30 pm
- Tuesday from 1.30pm to 4.30pm
- Wednesday from 9 am to 12:30 pm
- Thursday from 1:30pm to 4:30pm
- Friday from 1:30pm to 4:30pm
By E-mail
Access to contact form
By mail
Center for European and International Social Security Liaison
44 Armand Carrel Street
93100 Montreuil
Information on Foreign Care and C2S
By courier or postal mail
Via a telephone appointment
You can choose a niche from your amelihttps://assure.ameli.fr/PortailAS/appmanager/PortailAS/assure?_somtc=true#idPopupWARecueilConsentement account to make a telephone appointment on the day and time that is convenient for you.
On the day of the appointment, a health insurance advisor will call you at the time set on the phone number provided in your friendly account to update you on your case. Please check the contact information in your account before booking.