W E L CO MINTERNATIONAL

WELCOMING I N G I N T E RSTUDENTS
N AT I O N ASOCIAL
L S T PROTECTION
UDENTS S OC IDEPARTURE
BEFORE A L P R OT EMAKE
C T ISURE
O NYOU ARE
BE F O R EWITH
COVERED D ETHE
PA RTURE
EUROPEAN HEALTH INSURANCE CARD: INSTRUCTIONS FOR USE

MAKE SURE YOU ARE COVERED WITH

THE EUROPEAN HEALTH INSURANCE
CARD: INSTRUCTIONS FOR USE

Are you planning to start or continue your higher studies in France?

Whether you come as part of an exchange program or as a free mover,
for a short or long stay, it is important to think about your health
insurance coverage and how you’ll get it set up with the European
Health Insurance Card (EHIC).

WHAT IS IT?
MAKE SURE YOU ARE COVERED WITH THE EUROPEAN HEALTH INSURANCE CARD: INSTRUCTIONS FOR USE - Wellness Center HEYME - Septembre 2020

As a citizen of the European Union (EU), the European Economic Area (EEA), Switzerland
or the United Kingdom, the European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) covers part of your
health care expenses when you arrive in France. It guarantees you access to public health
professionals established in the member countries of the EU/EEA*.

* Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Cyprus, Croatia, Denmark, Spain, Estonia, Finland, France, Greece,
Hungary, Ireland, Iceland, Italy, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Norway,
Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Sweden, Czech Republic.

NOTE

There will be no change in access to healthcare within the European Union for
UK nationals before 12/31/2020.

The EHIC is free and registered and therefore allows treatment during a
temporary stay in one of the member states of the EU/EEA, Switzerland or the
United Kingdom, under the same conditions and at the same price (sometimes
free of charge) as the persons insured in this country.
WELCOMING INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS SOCIAL PROTECTION BEFORE DEPARTURE MAKE SURE YOU ARE COVERED WITH THE EUROPEAN HEALTH INSURANCE CARD: INSTRUCTIONS FOR USE

WHERE TO APPLY?

To apply for your EHIC, you must be insured or covered for your medical expenses
by a national social security system in a member state of the EU, EEA or Switzerland.
Consider applying at the social protection organization in charge of your health care
expenses in your country of origin at least two months before your departure for France.

HOW TO USE IT?

In France, your European Health Insurance Card allows you to:

■ Access public health professionals without prior contact with the locally
competent French body in terms of covering health care expenses; the Primary
Health Insurance Fund (Caisse Primaire d’Assurance Maladie/CPAM). The benefits
will therefore be the same as those for insured persons under the French social
MAKE SURE YOU ARE COVERED WITH THE EUROPEAN HEALTH INSURANCE CARD: INSTRUCTIONS FOR USE - Wellness Center HEYME - Septembre 2020

security system.
■ Be covered for part of the medical, pharmaceutical, dental, hospital and transport
expenses as well as laboratory tests and analyzes.

WHAT ARE THE LIMITS OF THE EHIC?

The European Health Insurance Card:

■ Does not replace your travel insurance. For example, it does not provide
coverage in the event of loss or theft of luggage or in the event of an emergency
repatriation to your country of origin. In fact, when you go abroad, even within
the European Union, it is strongly recommended to take out a travel insurance
policy in addition to your EHIC to be well covered throughout your stay.

HEYME supports students and offers customized solutions:

[Link]
WELCOMING INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS SOCIAL PROTECTION BEFORE DEPARTURE MAKE SURE YOU ARE COVERED WITH THE EUROPEAN HEALTH INSURANCE CARD: INSTRUCTIONS FOR USE

■ Does not guarantee free health care. In fact, given that every health care system
is different depending on the country, some medical procedures that are free in
your country will not necessarily be free elsewhere. In France, Social Security does
not reimburse everything; on average you will be covered between 15% and 70% of
your medical expenses depending on the treatment. To be better reimbursed, it is
therefore strongly recommended to purchase an additional healthcare insurance on
your arrival.

HEYME supports students and offers customized solutions:

[Link]

SPECIAL CASES:

■ If you do not have an EHIC before your departure, you have the option
of registering for the French social security scheme by submitting a S1
- Registration form in order to benefit from health insurance benefits:
MAKE SURE YOU ARE COVERED WITH THE EUROPEAN HEALTH INSURANCE CARD: INSTRUCTIONS FOR USE - Wellness Center HEYME - Septembre 2020

■ It certifies your right to be covered for your health care expenses

from the social security fund in your country of origin.

■ When you arrive in France, you must register on the relevant

website: [Link] and complete your file with
the S1 form issued by the social security fund in your country of
residence. Remember to collect the form before your departure.

■ If your country of origin has signed an agreement with France

(Andorra, Monaco and Quebec), you remain covered by the social
welfare organization of your country upon presentation of proof of
affiliation. To obtain it, contact the social welfare organization of your
country of origin that is in charge of your health care expenses before
your departure. For more information, see [Link], section «social
protection upon arrival in France».

SOURCES :
[Link]
[Link]
[Link]
W E L CO MINTERNATIONAL
WELCOMING I N G I N T E RSTUDENTS
N AT I O N ASOCIAL
L S T PROTECTION
UDENTS ONSARRIVAL
OC I A L PMAKE
R OTSURE
ECT I OARE
YOU N COVERED
ON A R RTHE
WITH I VAEUROPEAN
L HEALTH INSURANCE CARD: GETTING REIMBURSED

MAKE SURE YOU ARE COVERED WITH

THE EUROPEAN HEALTH INSURANCE
CARD: GETTING REIMBURSED

When you arrive in France, your European Health Insurance Card

(EHIC) will allow you to:
■ Access public healthcare professionals without having to do any administrative
procedures with the relevant French structures (Caisse Primaire d’Assurance
Maladie - CPAM*) in order to get refunded for medical expenses.
The services provided will be the same as for people insured by the French
social security system.
*Each department has at least one CPAM* (or CGSS for overseas territories).
Find the list on the website of the Caisse Primaire d’Assurance Maladie for
employees (CNAMTS).

■ Get reimbursed a certain percentage of your medical expenses (between

15% and 70% on average) under the same conditions as an insured person
MAKE SURE YOU ARE COVERED WITH THE EUROPEAN HEALTH INSURANCE CARD: GETTING REIMBURSED - Wellness Center HEYME - Septembre 2020

living in France. Levels of reimbursement vary depending on the medical

treatment; consultations, hospitalization, medication, etc.

MEDICAL TREATMENT

1. For a doctor’s appointment: You must pay the doctor directlyfor the
appointment and he will give you a treatment document and possibly a
prescription.

NOTE
Before going to a healthcare professional, make sure that
they are approved by the CPAM as reimbursements are
given based on the Social Security’s conventional tariff*.
Consult the Healthcare Directory website to find a healthcare
professional’s contact details.

*Sector 1 conventional status: healthcare professionals respect the

conventional tariffs fixed by the Social Security system.
Sector 2 conventional status: healthcare professionals set their
own tariffs/fees. Excess fees are not reimbursed by the Social Security.
WELCOMING INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS SOCIAL PROTECTION ON ARRIVAL MAKE SURE YOU ARE COVERED WITH THE EUROPEAN HEALTH INSURANCE CARD: GETTING REIMBURSED

2. Pharmacies: You can go to the any pharmacy you like to pick up your
prescription by giving them the treatment document and doctor’s
prescription. You will pay the pharmacist who gives you your prescription
and treatment document directly for the medication.

3. Hospitalization: You must give your EHIC card and ID to the hospital. In
France, hospital fees are generally 80% covered by the Social Security.
Therefore, when you give them your EHIC card, you will be covered by third-
party payment (exemption from advance fees) for the percentage covered
by Social Security. However, you will need to pay the remaining 20%, which
may be several hundred euros or more, depending on how long you are
hospitalized for and the medical procedures you undergo. For better
coverage, it is strongly recommended that you subscribe to complementary
health insurance.

HEYME supports students

MAKE SURE YOU ARE COVERED WITH THE EUROPEAN HEALTH INSURANCE CARD: GETTING REIMBURSED - Wellness Center HEYME - Septembre 2020

and offers customized solutions:

[Link]

NOTE
Make sure you choose an approved hospital (once which has signed an
agreement with the Social Security) to avoid excess fees or not being covered
for your medical expenses.

Consult the Healthcare Directory repository for an approved hospital and rules for rates
and refunds on the CNAMTS website.
WELCOMING INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS SOCIAL PROTECTION ON ARRIVAL MAKE SURE YOU ARE COVERED WITH THE EUROPEAN HEALTH INSURANCE CARD: GETTING REIMBURSED

REIMBURSEMENT

If you have a European Health Insurance Card, you have two options for getting reimbursed
for your medical expenses:

1. Request a refund from your the protection body which covers your medical
expenses once you go back to your home country and provide them with the
medical bills which you will have already paid.

2. Contact the national social protection body while you are abroad and receive
refunds directly from the country you are in. For France, this is the Caisse
Primaire d’Assurance Maladie (CPAM).

REIMBURSEMENTS FROM THE CPAM

To be reimbursed for your medical expenses in France, you must send the following
MAKE SURE YOU ARE COVERED WITH THE EUROPEAN HEALTH INSURANCE CARD: GETTING REIMBURSED - Wellness Center HEYME - Septembre 2020

documents to the CPAM* relevant to where you received treatment:

A copy of your ID A copy of your EHIC

(front and back)

The dated and signed Provide your permanent address

treatment document and bank information (name of the
along with the prescription bank, address, SWIFT code, account
LE XX/XX/
XX (documents provided by the number with IBAN or BIC code).
healthcare professional)

*Do not forget, there is at least one CPAM or one CGSS (for overseas territories) per department. Find
the list on the website of the Caisse Primaire d’Assurance Maladie (CNAMTS).

USEFUL INFORMATION
The Social Security system does not reimburse all of your expenses. You still
have to pay for some of them: the user fee and the medical deductible.
WELCOMING INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS SOCIAL PROTECTION ON ARRIVAL MAKE SURE YOU ARE COVERED WITH THE EUROPEAN HEALTH INSURANCE CARD: GETTING REIMBURSED

THE USER FEE AND MEDICAL DEDUCTIBLE

Social Security coverage rates vary depending on the medical procedure. Here are some
examples:
■ 70% for medical consultations and X-rays
■ 15% to 65% for medication
■ 60% for nursing care, physiotherapy and biological analyses

The user fee (which you must pay) is the amount not reimbursed by the social security. As such,
you cannot request to be reimbursed for the user fee with your EHIC. In addition, the Social
Security also charges a non-refundable medical deductible of €0.50 per box of medication or
even €1 per doctor’s appointment (for up to €50 per person per year). For better coverage, it
is strongly recommended that you subscribe to complementary health insurance.

HEYME supports students

and offers customized solutions:
MAKE SURE YOU ARE COVERED WITH THE EUROPEAN HEALTH INSURANCE CARD: GETTING REIMBURSED - Wellness Center HEYME - Septembre 2020

[Link]

AN EXAMPLE FOR FURTHER CLARIFICATION:

The reimbursement for medical expenses for an appointment

with a general practitioner who charges the conventional tariff
(social security fee) of €25 is as follows:

Mandatory share
70% (reimbursement of Health
Insurance) €17.50

Flat-rate charge (franchise

-€1 fee) Non-refundable €1

30% Additional share (Copayment)

€7.50
WELCOMING INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS SOCIAL PROTECTION ON ARRIVAL MAKE SURE YOU ARE COVERED WITH THE EUROPEAN HEALTH INSURANCE CARD: GETTING REIMBURSED

In addition, having the complementary EHIC health insurance means that you benefit
from full third-party payment and, depending on the level of the guarantee you have
chosen, you do not need to pay anything if you are hospitalized, purchase medication,
undergo laboratory tests, etc.

USEFUL INFORMATION
As you are insured in another EU Member State and are temporarily resident in
France, you are not bound to abide by the treatment pathway provided for in
French legislation. This treatment pathway requires one to be registered with a
general practitioner and to consult the latter before seeing a specialist. Thus you
can consult a specialist directly by simply showing your EHIC (European Health
Insurance Card) at the time of the appointment.

SPECIAL CIRCUMSTANCES
MAKE SURE YOU ARE COVERED WITH THE EUROPEAN HEALTH INSURANCE CARD: GETTING REIMBURSED - Wellness Center HEYME - Septembre 2020

If you arrive in France with an S1 form, which certifies your right to pay medical expenses
to the social security fund in your home country, you must sign up to the French social
security system. To do so:

■ Sign up on [Link]

■ Add the S1 form to your application. You should have received this from your country
of residence’s social security system before coming to France.

SOURCES :
[Link]
[Link]
[Link]