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Your healthcare provider during your stay in France will differ, depending on your personal situation.
Please consult the table below, to find out who your healthcare provider will be, and how to ensure that you are well covered.
Your country of permanent residence | The length of your stay | Your healthcare coverage provider | Procedure to follow |
A member country of the European Union, European Economic Area, or Switzerland | Any length of stay, as long as you do not plan on working in France (internship, apprenticeship, etc.)
* if your academic program requires to have a work experience in France, then you MUST register for the French National Health Insurance. |
Your European healthcare provider | Nothing to be done, but do be sure to have your valid European Health Insurance Card on you for each medical visit. |
Any other country | Less than 3 months | A private international insurance provider | We strongly recommend that you purchase an international insurance for the full period of your stay in France. |
Any other country | Over 3 months | The French National Health Insurance | Register for the French National Health Insurance upon your arrival in France. |
In short, no matter what visa you arrive in France with,
as long as you stay here for over 3 months,
you may be covered by the French National Health Insurance.
It is very important to keep a copy of all medical bills you may acquire during your stay in France.
If you are covered by a European Health Insurance or a private international health plan, please contact your insurance provider about how to get reimbursed for your medical fees.
If you have registered with the French National Health Insurance, you may be reimbursed up to 60/70% of your medical fees. To get reimbursed following a doctor’s appointment, you must fill out and send the ‘feuille de soins’ that you will have received from the doctor, to:
If you move away from your campus city, you will have to inform the CPAM of your new address, and your file will be transferred to the local CPAM of your new place of residence.
You can track your reimbursements and find additional information by creating your account on ameli.fr.
Students registered with the French National Health Insurance may be reimbursed up to 60-70% of their medical fees. The remaining 30-40% are covered by the student.
This may not seem much when considering a 25-Euro family doctor’s appointment. But anything else (a hospital visit, a cast, an x-ray, etc.) costs much more, which is why we strongly advise students to subscribe to supplementary health insurance coverage (mutuelle, in French).
For as little as 10 – 15 Euros per month, students’ coverage may be greatly improved.
See the MGEL and SMENO offers for more information!
112 – European emergencies
15 – SAMU (Emergency medical service)
16 – Fire brigade
17 – Police