How to apply for Social Security in France
Once you finally settled in Paris (or France) for a minimum of three months and established residency, you’re eligible for French national health coverage. So this short blog will take you through the exact steps you’ll have to take to get your Securité Sociale.
But first ,let’s talk about the basics:
WHAT IS SECURITÉ SOCIALE ( SOCIAL SECURITY)?
The "Sécurité Sociale" (social security) is the French public health insurance system, which is funded through social contributions and taxes, made up of 4 sections:
Family (early childhood, youth, housing, social integration);
Old age (retirement, widowhood, loss of autonomy);
Accidents and illnesses occurring at work;
Illness (healthcare circuit, pregnancy, disability, death).
WHAT IS CARTE VITALE?
Carte Vitale is a card (just like a credit card) that contains administrative information about you. The healthcare professional you consult (doctor, dentist, etc.) uses your Carte Vitale to draw up an electronic treatment sheet.
It allows you to be reimbursed for things like doctor or specialist appointments, prescriptions at the pharmacy, or hospital visits.
WHAT ARE THE REQUIREMENTS FOR BEING ELIGIBLE FOR ONE?
You’ll need to live here for a minimum of 3 months (with proving documents, like a rental agreement, utility bill etc.)
OR
You’ll need to be working in France (with proving documents, like a job contract)
You’ll need a French bank account in your name. (You can get a Sociale Securité number, but you can’t get reimbursed until you provide a back account)
SO WHAT ARE THE STEPS TO GETTING YOUR SECURITÉ SOCIALE, THEN?
First and foremost, you’ll have to fill out the health benefits application form – formulaires 736 Demande d’ouverture des droits à l’assurance maladie.
With the form, you’ll have to provide them with the following documents:
Your ID/passport
Your birth certificate, authenticated- (please note, that for this they might require an official translation to French)
A copy of your long-stay visa (if you’re from outside of the European Union)
Proof you have lived in France for more than three months (proof of residence, or employment contract or payslips)
Your RIB ( your French banking information - without this, you cannot get reimbursed)
After you’ve prepared all these documents, you’ll have two options for sending them in.
Go to your closest CPAM office (Caisse Primaire d’Assurances Maladie, the local department level of the national health insurance administration.) and apply in person.
Mail everything into your LOCAL CPAM office.
There’s no option to do this application online, you’ll either have to physically mail everything, or apply in person.
WHEN WILL YOU RECEIVE YOUR PERSONAL SOCIAL SECURITY NUMBER?
You’ll first receive a temporary number (in about a few weeks). You can use this immediately to get reimbursements, but you will have to pay in advance and do everything manually on paper.
You can not yet open an Ameli account, only after receiving your permanent number (which usually takes about 2-5 months, usually)
After you receive your permanent number, it’s time to request your Carte Vitale!
HOW DO YOU REQUEST YOUR CARTE VITALE?
You’re over the hard part, you got your Securité Sociale, and now you’ll have to “attach the number” to a Carte Vitale. To do this, you’ll need the following documents ready:
Your numéro de Sécurité Sociale
Your ID/passport
Your birth certificate, authenticated- (please note, that for this they’ll require an official translation to French)
A copy of your long-stay visa (if you’re from outside of the European Union)
Proof you have lived in France for more than three months (proof of residence, or employment contract or payslips)
Your RIB ( your French banking information - without this, you cannot get reimbursed)
After collecting all of the above, head over to Ameli.fr (the website portal for the French health insurance program) to open up a personal account and request your Carte Vitale.
After you make an account, click “My Carte Vitale,” and then “Order My Carte Vitale.” It’s easy to order the card, but if at any point you need any help, you can reach out to Ameli’s customer service number on 0 811 36 36 46. They have French and English-speaking agents.
Once you’ve completed your registration and requested your Carte Vitale, sit back, relax, and wait for your card to arrive by mail within a few weeks.
WHAT TO DO AFTER RECEIVING YOUR CARTE VITALE?
Now that you have your Carte Vitale, you’re 100% eligible for all the public health insurance in France. Whenever you’re doing anything health-related (dentist, health check-up, etc) just take out your Carte Vitale and that’s it.
All your data stored on that card is completely confidential, no one will know anything about your medical conditions and appointments except for you and the doctor you’re visiting at the time. On Ameli.fr, you can log into your profile to access all your appointment and treatment records, as well as all your reimbursements.
Once you get your Carte Vitale it’s good for life, there’s no expiration date on it, however, you’ll be required to change your personal information if there are any life changes (changing your marital name, changing address, etc)