Feeling sick, spraining your ankle, suffering from food poisoning… When traveling, as in everyday life, no one is safe from an accident or getting sick. If Social Security covers these risks while in France, the question of medical expenses arises when traveling abroad. And depending on whether you are traveling in Europe or elsewhere in the world, the rules for taking responsibility are not the same.
In Europe
It European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) allows you to establish your French social security rights in European Union (EU) states as well as in Norway, Liechtenstein, Iceland, Switzerland and the United Kingdom. Free, valid for two years, can be ordered from the Ameli.fr website. Please allow 15 days for delivery. Each family member must have their own children, even children under 16 years of age.
Only Ambulance, after illness or an unexpected accident can be covered in this way. “These are treatments that prevent you from returning to France for treatment and allow you to complete your stay in safe medical conditions.“, the website Service-public.fr emphasizes. Chronic or pre-existing conditions, as well as pregnancy and childbirth, also play a role.
In most cases there is no prepayment for medical expenses. A simple presentation of the EHIC to a healthcare professional is sufficient to access care in the same way as a citizen of the visited country. However, free is not systematic. “Because healthcare systems vary from country to country, some services that are free in your country may not be available elsewhere.“, warns the website of the European Commission. Depending on the destinations or health facilities (especially private hospitals), it is sometimes necessary to incur the costs and then reimburse them by making a request on the Ameli.fr website (“My procedures” and “Reimbursements for medical treatment abroad” section) to submit invoices paid;
Elsewhere in the world
As the name suggests, the EHIC only works within the EU and EEA. In addition to these thirty countries, undeclared or urgent aid may still be reimbursed to those who have signed bilateral agreement with French health insurance. This is the case of Morocco, Canada or the Turkish province of Quebec (see the full list of countries).
In this case, it is necessary to pay the costs in advance and to submit supporting documents for the health costs with Cerfa form n°12267 to your health insurance fund upon your return to France. attention reimbursement is not automatic. “Based on the supporting documentation, Health Insurance will assess whether or not you were in an emergency and, depending on the case, will cover or not cover your care. If agreed, treatments are reimbursed based on and within the applicable French flat rates (and not based on your actual costs)Amel’s website details. And to make it clearin case of refusal, no dispute is possible“.
For trips outside Europe,is reasonable take out travel insurance specifically or to ensure that you already have such insurance, for example with your car insurance or bank card“, advises the European and International Social Security Liaison Center (Cleiss). “The contract must be adapted to the actual costs of health care in the country of residence.In other words, we will not choose the same coverage depending on whether we stay in Africa or a country like the US or Canada, such as the high cost of living.
The advantage of travel insurance. they cover both treatment, hospital stay and repatriation costs, while covering non-health risks (car rental, civil liability, lost luggage, etc.). In the event of hospitalization, they can sometimes cover the travel and living expenses of a close relative who must come to the patient’s bedside. Because some of the ideas received may cost you dearly. Although most bank cards include insurance, the ceiling is often insufficient for treatment abroad unless you have a premium card. Likewise, in case of an accident, consulates and embassies do not provide any financial assistance to their citizens.
Source: Le Figaro
