Take care of your health this summer
If you are resident in France, the chances are you are part of the excellent French health care system, accessed via the trusty carte vitale.
But what if you’re travelling abroad this summer? Or any other time, for that matter! Check out our article on the EHIC/GHIC health cards, which provide cover in both the UK and on the continent for emergency and medically necessary healthcare needs.
Reimbursement possible through Amélie
Aside from the EHIC/GHIC cards, did you know that it is possible to request reimbursements of treatments undertaken abroad directly through your online Améli account?
The application process requires you to meet a number of criteria, including very precise instructions for the supporting documents, so make sure you familiarise yourself with the requirements BEFORE heading off on your hols, because upon your return, it may be too late!
You will need:
- Detailed invoices for services provided (care services, hospitalisation, etc.). The invoice must show that the amount has been paid in full
- Proof that you made the payment yourself (credit card receipts, bank statements showing the amounts paid, various receipts, etc.)
- Medical prescriptions (for pharmacy care, medical equipment, paramedical care, etc.)
If you undergo regular treatment and therefore know in advance of treatments while abroad, you will also need prior authorisation for reimbursement issued by the Caisse d’Assurance Maladie (S2 form, dialysis authorisation, DA1, etc.). Check which forms you need with the relevant healthcare professional.
If your treatment occurs during international travel for professional reasons, you will need to complete the “avis de mission professionnelle à l’étranger” form, available here.
Applying for reimbursement
If your French is up to it, you can watch the official Youtube tutorial or use our translated step-by-step guide below.
Step-by-step guide
Log in to (or create) your Amélie account using your social security number (the long number on the carte vitale).
Once you have logged in, you need to select “Mes démarches” (my initiatives) followed by “Demander un remboursements de soins à l’étranger” (reimbursement of treatments abroad).
The next screen details the documents you should provide as part of your application, as detailed at the start of this article so unless you’re looking to test you French, you can just scroll down to the bottom of the page and click the botton “Je démarre ma demande” (I’m starting my request)
The following page asks for your nationality and professional status at the time of the treatment. Note that the United Kingdom is still grouped with the EU (for now!).
Upon validation of these initial details, you will be asked to provide details of the treatment(s) received. You can apply for a reimbursement for any member of your family linked to your carte vitale.
The first box asks you to explain the reasons for treatment. Here’s some vocab for some of the more common complaints.
You then need to indicate if the treatment was foreseen before your departure, the amount paid in local currency and the nature of the treatment.
Depending on the information you provide, there will be different requirements in terms of proof and further details but generally, you will be asked to indicate the country of treatment, the dates and reasons for your travel,
The final step is to upload your supporting documents. These can be pdf files (if you scan the documents) or jpeg/png files (if you photograph them).
You are limited to 10 documents via the online application form, so unless you’re a whizz and know how to compress files, you can send bulkier applications the old-fashioned way, providing the above details using the paper form.
|
The postal address for P-O residents is: CPAM des Pyrénées-Orientales |
