Reimbursement of care abroad (holidays or short stay)

Verified 07 August 2026 - Public Service / (Prime Minister)

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      Before going on holiday abroad, you want to know the rules related to the reimbursement of care received outside France? These rules vary depending on whether the stay takes place in a country of the(EEE), in Switzerland, the United Kingdom or another country. We explain the rules to know.

      In the, Switzerland or United Kingdom

      Are you planning a temporary stay (weekend, holiday, cultural or linguistic stay, study, internship, job search or business trip) in one of the countries of the European Union (EEE), Switzerland or the United Kingdom? The European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) allows care to be covered in the country of stay under the same conditions as a social insured person from that country.

      Please note

      The EHIC is not a payment card.

      She can be used Denmark, Iceland, Norway, Switzerland or Liechtenstein only if you are european.

      The EHIC guarantees healthcare coverage in the country of stay under the same conditions as a social insured person in that country.

      This could be, for example, an appointment with a doctor, a dentist, a hospital.

      The European Commission website explains how to use EHIC in different countries.

      The presentation of the EHIC (or your provisional certificate) avoids special procedures in the country of stay.

      Thus, you benefit from the coverage of your medical care according to the rules and formalities that apply in the country of stay:

      • Either you do not have to advance medical expenses
      • Either you have to make the advance of the medical expenses and you are reimbursed on the spot by the social security agency of your place of stay.

      Warning  

      Health systems vary greatly from one European country to another. Some services may be free in France, but paid in other countries. Before leaving, find out about the health care system of the country you are visiting.

      Covered care

      The EHIC covers:

      • Medically necessary care
      • Chronic or pre-existing diseases
      • Pregnancy
      • Childbirth.

      Presenting the EHIC saves you from having to return to your country of habitual residence earlier than planned to receive the necessary treatment.

      Warning  

      The purpose of your stay should not be to receive care. He must not therefore it is a question of scheduled care.

      Care not covered

      Private care is not covered. You can only submit the EHIC for health care provided by providers in the public system.

      If you receive care outside the public system, you can request reimbursement once you return to France, under the tariff in force in France. Some mutual societies cover health expenses incurred abroad.

      The EHIC does not allow covering the costs of medical treatment that you have scheduled in one of the countries of the (EEE) or in Switzerland.

      This card does not cover rescue and repatriation services. If you wish to be repatriated free of charge in the event of a critical illness or accident in another country of the UE, you must take out a separate insurance.

      Example :

      You are French. You go to Italy to ski. During your holidays, you injure your knee. You are being rescued by Italian rescue services. Back in France, you receive a very high bill for your rescue. You must pay the full bill, as search and rescue costs are not covered by the EHIC.

      Terms of settlement

      You benefit from the support according to the rules applicable in the country of stay.

      If the benefit is free of charge for insured persons in the country, it will also be for you. You won't have any money to advance. You may have to pay the co-payment (part of the costs remaining at your expense).

      If the benefit is fee-paying, you will have to advance the costs. You can request a refund:

      • Either on the spot, with the competent health insurance institution of the country of stay. Care is provided according to the social legislation and the formalities in the country concerned.
      • Either back in France. You must keep the invoices and proof of care and present them to your health insurance organization, along with the form cerfa no. 12267. You have the choice between being reimbursed on the basis of the French Social Security rates or the rates of the country of stay.

      FYI  

      If you have not requested reimbursement of your medical expenses during your stay, you can therefore present the invoices and proof of payment to your affiliation fund upon your return to France.

      How to claim the payment depends on your social security scheme (general or agricultural):

      General scheme

      If you have a Ameli account, you can request the reimbursement of such care online :

      Get reimbursed for care provided abroad from the Ameli account

      Agricultural scheme

      If you are at the MSA, you must contact her for the refund.

      Who shall I contact

      You must pay the full fee for care received in the country of stay in the following cases:

      • You forgot your EHIC
      • Your EHIC is no longer valid.

      Regardless of whether the care is provided in the public or private sector, you must keep all invoices and supporting documents.

      As soon as you return to France, you must present them to your health insurance organization to be reimbursed.

      The form cerfa no. 12267 must also be completed and provided.

      FYI  

      Some mutual societies cover health expenses incurred abroad.

      If you have an Ameli account, you can request the reimbursement of such care online :

      Get reimbursed for care provided abroad from the Ameli account

      Other country

      Are you planning a holiday abroad (except for EEE/Switzerland/United Kingdom)? Take precautions to be insured if you get sick. Before your departure, you must inquire about the health status of the country and any medical expenses you may have to pay. In some countries, care, especially hospital care, is very expensive. It is therefore prudent to be covered by an insurance or assistance contract.

      FYI  

      The French embassy or consulate of the country visited can put you in touch with a doctor approved by its services. Consular authorities can also provide you with a list of French-speaking or specialized doctors.

      Two situations must be distinguished.

      General scenario

      If you are receiving care abroad, you must pay medical expenses on site. It doesn't matter whether it's hospital care or not, in the public or private sector.

      For the credit union concerned, this is a possibility of coverage, not an obligation.

      You have an Ameli account

      You can request the reimbursement of such care online.

      You must go to your Ameli account:

      Get reimbursed for care provided abroad from the Ameli account

      Please note

      There are exceptions (example: Andorra and the Gabon where the care can be covered by the foreign fund, under certain conditions).

      Your French health insurance fund can cover unannounced care (hospital or outpatient) that you have received.

      The reimbursement of care will be granted or not, after verification of your situation and within the limits of the flat rates applied in France.

      FYI  

      This refund may be supplemented by mutual.

      You don't have an Ameli account

      You must keep the proof of health expenses and present them when you return to the health insurance fund, along with the form cerfa no. 12267.

      Please note

      There are exceptions (example: Andorra and the Gabon where the care can be covered by the foreign fund, under certain conditions).

      Your French health insurance fund can cover unannounced care (hospital or outpatient) that you have received.

      The reimbursement of care will be granted or not, after verification of your situation and within the limits of the flat rates applied in France.

      FYI  

      This refund may be supplemented by mutual.

      You are a national of the country you are traveling to

      Before leaving, you must ask your health insurance fund the following information:

      • If there is a social security agreement between France and the country of which you are a nationaland if applicable to you. A number of agreements concern only employees and members of their families. In addition, the majority of them do not apply to foreigners who have dual nationality (for example, Franco-Algerian or Franco-Malian).
      • If you have formalities to complete. In some cases, you must present specific forms submitted by your French health insurance fund to the health insurance body of your country of origin.

      If you fall within the scope of the agreement between the 2 countries, you will be able to benefit from the coverage of your health care on site, according to the rates in force in your country of origin.

      In the event of a work stoppage, you may also be entitled to receive daily allowances, under the conditions laid down in the agreement.

      If you do not fall within the scope of the agreement signed between the two countries or if the country has not signed an agreement with France, you must pay your medical expenses on the spot.

      You must keep invoices and proof of payment and present them, on your return to France, to your health insurance fund, accompanied by the cerfa form n°12267.

      Care received abroad - Declaration to be completed by the insured

      If you have an Ameli account, you can request the reimbursement of such care online.

      You must go to your Ameli account:

      Get reimbursed for care provided abroad from the Ameli account

      After checking your situation, your caisse will eventually reimburse you for your expenses within the limits of the rates applied in France. This is a possibility for your caisse, not an obligation.

      It is therefore recommended to have subscribed to a insurance or assistance contract before traveling abroad, because care, especially hospital care, can be very expensive in some countries.

      Who can help me?

      Find who can answer your questions in your region

      • General information on Social Security abroad and assistance with the procedures of individuals

        By phone

        +33 (0) 1 45 26 33 41

        Hotline:

        • Monday from 9am to 12.30pm
        • Tuesday from 1:30 pm to 4:30 pm
        • Wednesday from 9 am to 12.30 pm
        • Thursday from 1:30 pm to 4:30 pm
        • Friday from 1:30 pm to 4:30 pm

        By courier

        Access to contact form

        By post

        Center for European and International Social Security Liaison

        44 Armand Carrel Street

        93100 Montreuil

      • By courier or postal mail

        https://www.ameli.fr/assure/adresses-et-contacts

        Via a telephone appointment

        You can choose a slot from your ameli account to make a telephone appointment on the day and time that suits you. You go to the section Your appointments then select Make an appointment.

        On the day of the appointment, a health insurance advisor calls you at the time set on the phone number entered in your email account to take stock of your file.

        Check the contact information in your account before making an appointment.

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