If you are resident in France and part of the French healthcare system, you need to have the French equivalent of the British EHIC (European Health Insurance Card) when travelling outside of France.

The CEAM - Carte Européene d'Assurance Maladie - works in much the same way as the EHIC and allows the bearer the same conditions and access to healthcare of residents in that country.

You can order it online here . Go to www.ameli.fr

Click on Assurés, then the blue tab Vos services en ligne. You may need to enter your postcode in the green box in the top right corner.

Underneath the list vos démarches you will find number 3. Demandez une carte européenne d'Assurance Maladie.

The service claims it will send you a card within 15 working days. If you need to leave before that date your local CPAM can issue a provisional certificate. Take your carte vitale.