The French healthcare system
Social Security registration is free of charge and mandatory for all non EU-resident students.
In France, the reimbursement of medical expenses is divided into two levels:
1. The mandatory part, covered by Social Security. It allows for the reimbursement of a portion or the entirety of your healthcare expenses based on agreed-upon rates.
2. The complementary part, also known as the "ticket modérateur" (TM), either remains your responsibility or is covered by supplemental health insurance (mutuelle).
For your medical expenses to be covered, you need to register online at https://etudiant-etranger.ameli.fr.
Once your registration is complete, you will receive an "attestation d'affiliation provisoire", a certificate of provisional affiliation. Your file is processed by the CPAM, and once they are done, you receive a definitive certificate, which allows you to request a Carte vitale (vital card).
The French healthcare system put a provisional social security number (NIA, Numéro d’Identification d’Attente) for people born outside of mainland France. Its structure is identical to the NIR ( (Numéro d’Inscription au Répertoire national) and starts with a 1 or a 2. The health expenses of students with a NIA are covered, but they do not have a Carte vitale or ameli account yet. Once the student receives their residence permit and gives the relevant documents to the CPAM, they are informed by mail that they can request a Carte vitale.
Insurances:
You will find here a few insurance companies for your different need (medical emergencies, repatriation, civil responsibility).
HEYME, offers insurance for foreign students. Thanks to our partnership, enjoy a 10% discount on all HEYME healthcare solutions with the code 29CMI-10
April also offers insurance for students coming to study in France, or French students leaving to study abroad.
ACS offers a few insurance solutions:
- Europax et Globe Partner, before leaving your home country
- When requesting a visa for France and once you've arrived, you will not be covered by the French social security yet. This is why it is critical that you get insurance. ACS offers the travel insurance "EUROPAX", which is compliant with the requirements of the Schengen visa and for your arrival (and first few months) in France.
Europax covers for up to 3 months your essential needs: medical emergencies (up to 30 000€), civil responsibility, medical rapatriation, as well as body retrieval in case of death.
- Globe Traveller et ARE, for French residents