France Health Care System

France Health System

If you are a UK or EU resident, you are entitled to medical treatment that becomes necessary, at reduced cost or sometimes free, when temporarily visiting France. You will need an EHIC – European Health Insurance Card to be eligible. EHIC may not cover for all medical costs so it is still advised to have travel insurance for your visitation.

Who is eligible?:

People who are normally resident in the UK are entitled to a UK-issued EHIC.

What medical treatment is covered?:

• Dental and medical treatments – refund of 75 per cent or more of charges incurred.
• Prescribed medicines – refund of 35 to 65 per cent of charges incurred.
• Hospital treatment: you must pay for out-patient treatment and then claim a partial refund from the local Sickness Insurance Office. If you are treated as an in-patient in an approved hospital and show your EHIC, the office will pay 75 per cent or more of the cost direct to the hospital.
• Routine maternity care while you are away
• Any treatment you need for a chronic disease or pre-existing illness.
• Not covered?:
• Unnecessary treatment
• If medical treatment is the main purpose of your visit

Claims / Money Back:

Send your claim form to your local Sickness Insurance Offices while you are still in France to receive your refund. The French authorities will send your statement and refund to your home. This process normally takes 2 months.

When claiming for prescribed medicines you should attach your prescription and/or labels from medicine container to the claim form. These should clearly state the name and price of the contents.

More information:

Health Care in Ski Resorts

In practice, the system will not fully cover you for events that often happen in ski resorts. The EHIC only covers you in state hospitals, though some private clinics in ski resorts will have agreements to treat non-private patients