European Health Insurance Card (EHIC)
Verified 17 February 2023 - Directorate for Legal and Administrative Information (Prime Minister)
Wondering what the European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) is for? It makes it easy to take care of your medical care in Europe. It attests to your rights to French health insurance. You can apply for your card before your stay in Europe. The EHIC may be requested for free by any person attached to the Sickness Insurance, whatever his nationality.
Warning
If you change countries from habitual residence, you must use Form S1, not the European Health Insurance Card, to register for medical care in your new country of residence.
Access to care
The EHIC guarantees direct access to the public health system in the country of residence, without prior contact with the local institution.
The services are provided under the same conditions (terms and conditions, prices) as for the insured persons of the country concerned.
To do this, you present your EHIC or provisional certificate.
Settlement arrangements
If the benefit is free for the insured in the country, it will also be for you. You won't have any money to advance.
You may have to pay the user fee (part of the fees you will pay).
If the benefit is paying, you will need to make an advance payment. You will be able to claim the refund:
- Or on the spot, at the competent sickness insurance institution of the country of stay. Care is provided in accordance with the social legislation and formalities in force in the country concerned
- Be back in France. You must keep the invoices and proof of care and present them to your health insurance organization, accompanied by the form cerfa no. 12267. You have the choice between being reimbursed on the basis of the rates of the French social security or the rates of the country of stay.
FYI
The EHIC can be used in a dematerialized version from the Friendly Account application.
If you have a Ameli account, you can request the reimbursement of this care online.
You need to go to your Ameli account.
Get reimbursed for care done abroad from Ameli account
If you're at home MSA, you must contact her for the refund.
Warning
health systems vary greatly from one european country to another. Some services can be free in France, but paid for in other countries. Before leaving, find out more about the health care system of the country you are visiting.
Covered care
This card is for medically necessary care.
It also covers chronic or pre-existing diseases and pregnancy and childbirth.
For this, the purpose of the stay should not be to benefit from care. So it shouldn't be scheduled care.
FYI
If you did not ask for reimbursement of your medical expenses during your stay, you can present the invoices and the proof of payment to your affiliate upon your return to France.
Care not covered
Private care is not covered. If you receive private care, you can ask for a refund once you return to France, in accordance with the tariff in force in France. The card does not cover the cost of any medical treatment you have scheduled in one of the European Economic Area (EEA) countries or in Switzerland.
Warning
The EHIC is not a payment card. It is also not a travel insurance.
The European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) can be used:
- In States of the European Union/European Economic Area (EU/EEA))
- In Switzerland
- In the UK.
The menu is free, individual and nominative.
The application must be made for each family member, including children under 16 years of age.
The EHIC must be requested at least 20 days before departure.
In case of urgency or late application, a temporary replacement certificate shall be issued. This certificate is valid for 3 months.
The request must be made to your health insurance body.
General scheme (including self-employed)
You can ask for your card on the Ameli site.
Request a European Health Insurance Card (EHIC)
The request can also be made on the spot by going to the counter.
Who shall I contact
If you don't have an Ameli account and can't travel, you can also make the request by telephone.
Who shall I contact
Health insurance - 3646
To obtain information about your rights and procedures, ask a question about your file, report a change of situation or consult your refunds.
By telephone
3646
Open from Monday to Friday. Attention: the opening hours vary according to your department. As a general rule, opening hours are at least from 8:30 am to 5 pm.
Free service + call price, from a fixed or mobile phone.
From Mayotte, dial 02 69 61 91 91, Monday to Thursday from 7:30 am to 2:30 pm, Friday from 7:30 am to 12 pm.
From the foreigner: +33 1 84 90 36 46 (variable rate depending on the telephone operator).
To facilitate the answers, remember to bring your Vitale card.
By email and chat
Log in to your Ameli account : click on "My steps" and then "consult my exchange space".
You can also use ameliBOT. This chatbot can help you send an email. He can put you in touch with your health insurance fund. Indeed, if at the end of 2 requests, ameliBOT does not provide you with a satisfactory answer, you can contact a health insurance advisor via the exchange area of the Ameli account.
FYI
You can also order it from the Ameli Account smartphone app, available on the App Store and Google Play.
Agricultural arrangements
You can apply online on the MSA website.
The MSA provides instructions for use.
The request can also be made on site by going to the counter.
The EHIC is valid Maximum 2 years from its date of publication.
The period of validity of the card may not, however, exceed the duration of the data subject's rights to sickness insurance.
Renewal can be done from the expiry date on the card.
The request is made by courier or telephone.
The application shall be made to the body which issued the 1er map.
Répondez aux questions successives et les réponses s’afficheront automatiquement
General scheme (including self-employed persons)
You can ask for your card on the Ameli website.
Request a European Health Insurance Card (EHIC)
You can also make the request by phone.
Who shall I contact
Health insurance - 3646
To obtain information about your rights and procedures, ask a question about your file, report a change of situation or consult your refunds.
By telephone
3646
Open from Monday to Friday. Attention: the opening hours vary according to your department. As a general rule, opening hours are at least from 8:30 am to 5 pm.
Free service + call price, from a fixed or mobile phone.
From Mayotte, dial 02 69 61 91 91, Monday to Thursday from 7:30 am to 2:30 pm, Friday from 7:30 am to 12 pm.
From the foreigner: +33 1 84 90 36 46 (variable rate depending on the telephone operator).
To facilitate the answers, remember to bring your Vitale card.
By email and chat
Log in to your Ameli account : click on "My steps" and then "consult my exchange space".
You can also use ameliBOT. This chatbot can help you send an email. He can put you in touch with your health insurance fund. Indeed, if at the end of 2 requests, ameliBOT does not provide you with a satisfactory answer, you can contact a health insurance advisor via the exchange area of the Ameli account.
The request can also be made on site at the counter.
Who shall I contact
FYI
In the event of loss or theft, you have the option of reporting it to your Ameli account.
Pending a new card, a provisional EHIC replacement certificate, issued for a limited period of validity, may then be used under the same conditions as the EHIC.
Agricultural arrangements
You can make the request on the MSA website.
The request can also be made at the on-site counter.
FYI
In case of loss or theft, contact the MSA.
Who can help me?
Find who can answer your questions in your region
Center for European and International Social Security Liaison (Cleiss)
General information on social security abroad and assistance in the application of individuals
By telephone
+33 (0) 1 45 26 33 41
Hotline:
- mondays and wednesdays: 9am to 12.30pm
- tuesday and thursday: 1:30 p.m. to 4:15 p.m.
- Wednesday from 9 am to 12:30 pm.
By E-mail
Access to contact form
Care provided outside of France
Online service
Online service
Online service