What is state medical assistance (AME)?

Verified 01 April 2024 - Directorate for Legal and Administrative Information (Prime Minister)

Government medical aid (AME) is a mechanism for foreigners in an irregular situation to gain access to care. It is granted subject to residency and means requirements. We present you with the information you need to know.

Warning  

AME is not applicable to Mayotte.

General case

You must reside in France for more than 3 months.

You must not have not had a residence permit for more than 3 months.

You must collect resources not exceeding certain ceilings.

These ceilings are different if you live in the metropolis or in the Dom.

The resources taken into account are those of the last 12 months.

Tableau - Limit on resources for access to the MEA depending on the place of residence and the composition of the household

Composition of the hearth

Annual resource ceiling

Metropolis

DOM

Single person

€10,166

€11,315

2 people

€15,249

€16,972

3 people

€18,298

€20,366

4 people

€21,348

€23,760

Per person extra

€4,066

€4,526

The minor children receive the AME without delay even if you do not meet the condition of more than 3 months in France.

If your stay in France regularizes, you will be entitled to health insurance taking into account your professional activity or your stable and regular residence.

The AME entitles the support at 100% your medical and hospital care within social security rates.

You don't have to advance the costs.

Dependants (person you live with as a couple, children under the age of 16, or up to the age of 20 if they continue their studies) may also benefit from the MEA.

The following medical expenses are not supported :

  • Technical procedure, examination, medicinal product and product necessary for the performance of a reproductive health procedure
  • Medical service drug made low reimbursed to 15%
  • Thermal cure

However, for minors, medical expenses are covered at 100% in any case.

Warning  

Certain care and treatment shall not be covered until 9 months after admission to the MEA for any new beneficiary or for a beneficiary who has not benefited from the MEA for more than one year.

Application file 

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General case

You must fill out the cerfa form n°11573:

Request for medical assistance from the State (AME)

The form contains a leaflet indicating the documents to be provided according to your situation.

You must come and deposit your 1er request from your primary health insurance fund (CPAM).

The file can be filed in all the branches of the credit union.

However, in a few departments, the file may only be submitted to agencies dedicated upon receipt of AME applications. These departments are:

  • Aisne
  • Ariege
  • Expensive
  • Guarded
  • Paris
  • Loire-Atlantique
  • Haut-Rhin
  • Seine-Saint-Denis
  • North
  • Pas-de-Calais
Who shall I contact

You can also deposit this file in a public service home authorized by the health insurance organization.

The first application can also be submitted to a health facility or a health care access point (PHSI) in which you or a member of your household is cared for. In this case, the institution shall forward the application file, within 8 days, to the health insurance body.

Under certain conditions, the first application may also be filed with a health center or a nursing home or association.

Isolated minor

The application may be submitted to a health insurance body by

  • Or a structure for the care or support of such persons
  • An association defending the rights of users of the health system or people in precarious situations.

Cerfa Form 11573 must be completed:

Request for medical assistance from the State (AME)

The form contains a leaflet indicating the documents to be provided.

Person with reduced mobility

The first application may be submitted to the following services:

  • Health insurance body
  • Health care facility in which the applicant is cared for
  • Communal or intercommunal social action center of your place of residence
  • Health and social services of the department of residence
  • Associations or non-profit organizations approved for this purpose by decision of the State representative in the department

Cerfa Form 11573 must be completed:

Request for medical assistance from the State (AME)

The form contains a leaflet indicating the documents to be provided.

Person under guardianship or guardianship

Your guardian or trustee can submit the first request to the following services:

  • Health insurance body which carries out the investigation by delegation of the State
  • Health care facility in which the applicant is cared for
  • Communal or inter-communal social work center of the place of residence of the person concerned
  • Health and social services of the department of residence
  • Associations or non-profit organizations approved for this purpose by decision of the State representative in the department
    Who shall I contact

Cerfa Form 11573 must be completed:

Request for medical assistance from the State (AME)

The form contains a leaflet indicating the documents to be provided.

Please note

Social services and non-profit associations or organizations approved for this purpose by the prefect of department can help you in your approach.

Your CPAM: titleContent inform you of its decision not later than 2 months after the deposit of your request.

If you have not received a reply within this period, your request will be refused.

If your application is accepted, you are summoned to come and withdraw your AME admission card. This card is to be presented to the healthcare professionals you consult.

FYI  

If you reside in France in an irregular manner and you do not have AME (you do not meet the conditions or your application is pending), you can benefit from urgent care at the hospital. Ask your CPAM.

Who shall I contact

The MEA shall be granted for a one-year duration from the date of submission of the application.

If you challenge a refusal to grant the MEA, you can make a appeal courtesy of your CPAM within 2 months of receipt of the decision.

You can also apply to the administrative court of your place of residence within 2 months of the decision date.

Who shall I contact

Asylum seeker

You cannot take advantage of the MEA.

However, you will benefit from the universal health protection (Puma) after 3 months of residence in France.

During these 3 months, you can be treated under the urgent care device.

Who can help me?

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