The European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) is useful when medical care is needed during a stay in Europe. With it, we benefit from the on-site coverage of medical expenses. How to get it? How long to receive it? What’s the point ?
Definition: what is the European health insurance card?
The European health insurance card (EHIC) is a document which allows a resident of the European Union to benefit from medical care during a stay in another Member State than his own, without prior procedure and without having to resort to numerous forms. It’s a free card.
What is the use of the European health insurance card?
The treatments covered by the European Health Insurance Card are only necessary and unforeseen care, which allow the patient to be treated in good conditions without having to shorten his stay. It can for example be a consultation with the doctor or hospitalization following an accident. The EHIC also covers chronic or pre-existing illnesses, as well as pregnancy and childbirth. On the other hand, the private care is not covered but their reimbursement may be requested once the patient has returned to his country.
Who is affected by the European Health Insurance Card?
In France, the CEAM can be requested by any insured to French health insurance regardless of their situation (worker, unemployed, student, pensioner, etc.) and their age. It is individual and nominative and even children under 16 covered by their parents’ health insurance must request their personalized card.
The European Health Insurance Card is not issued automatically. The EHIC request can be made in several ways:
- At the counter from your health insurance fund,
- By mail,
- From your account on the ameli.fr website “my steps” section,
- Since a thick headed multiservice accessible in branches,
- By phone at 3646 Monday to Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. for metropolitan France.
How long does it take to receive the European Health Insurance Card?
THE leadtime of the map is of a fortnight after his request. Note that there is no family card and the request must be made for each member of the family, including children under 16 years old.
The EHIC is valid for 2 years maximum after issuance. When it has expired, the insured can request its renewal, online, at the counter, by telephone or by mail.
If the insured has forgotten his EHIC during a stay abroad, he will have to pay all the health costs he will have received there. Back in France, he will have the possibility of being reimbursed for his expenses by completing and sending to his health insurance fund the Cerfa 12267*04 form, duly completed, to which the invoices and proof of treatment will be attached. Note that the EHIC exists in dematerialized version, accessible on smartphone or tablet from the Ameli application.