How does healthcare work for foreign residents when abroad?

If you move to France and are part of the country’s healthcare system, it can change the healthcare you receive back in your country of origin when visiting.

There are several scenarios, depending on where you come from as well as how and when you came to France. 

The Connexion looks at some cases below. 

Foreign resident of France travelling within the EU/EEA 

If you are travelling to another European country – either within the EU or Norway, Switzerland, Liechtenstein, and the UK – people signed up to the French healthcare system should use their European health card (known as a Carte européenne d'assurance maladie – Ceam – in French).

Similar to a British Ehic or Ghic, this provides medically necessary health coverage in a country under the same conditions as a resident of that country.

These cards are available to anyone who is a settled resident of France and registered with its health system, they are free, and should be ordered around a month before any trip. Read more about the card here. 

Note, however, that a Ceam does not cover all possible costs – such as medical repatriation, certain private healthcare, mountain rescue, or non-reimbursed parts of healthcare in countries where this also exists for its residents. It is still recommended that you obtain travel health insurance with elements suited to filling such gaps. 

UK or EU retirees in France who hold an S1 form – meaning their healthcare costs are paid by the country paying their state pension – should use the Ehic/Ghic they are entitled to from this country when travelling in Europe (thought it is not usable in the issuing country), as they are not eligible for a Ceam.

UK retirees moving to France should apply for an S1 before moving to France (around three months in advance) and have the document sent to their UK address. The request is made to the Overseas Healthcare Services. 

Foreign resident of France travelling outside of the EU/EEA

If you are visiting your country of citizenship, it is worth seeing if there is a French social security agreement with your country which would allow you, as a citizen, healthcare on visits. 

Your French health caisse should be able to tell you. There is, however, no relevant agreement we are aware of that helps US citizens visiting the US or UK residents of France who came post Brexit.

Those travelling to non-EU/EEA countries should, typically, obtain travel insurance for the trip. A Ceam does not work outside of Europe (unlike, for example, a Ghic, which works in some overseas British Territories and Australia).

Having said this, if you incur unplanned, necessary healthcare costs while on a trip abroad outside the EU and have to pay for these, you should collect the bills and receipts and may present them to your French caisse on your return. 

This can be done on paper form Cerfa 12267 soins reçus à l’étranger, or via the same section of your personal space at ameli.fr under Mes démarches. 

If satisfied that the care was necessary, unplanned, a type available in France, and the documents provided contain sufficient information, the caisse may agree to refund up to the usual French levels for the type of care. However, bear in mind that US healthcare, in particular, is well-known for its high cost, which may be several times more, hence having a health insurance policy is highly recommended rather than relying on this. 

Britons living in France and visiting the UK

As mentioned, Ceam cards can also be used in the UK, including in most cases by UK citizens that are visiting, providing medically necessary healthcare.

However, this card cannot be used in the UK by S1 holders, leading to one of two scenarios. 

Those who moved to France before December 31, 2020 – beneficiaries of the Brexit Withdrawal Agreement between the UK and the EU – and have an S1 because they draw a UK state pension can receive NHS treatment as other UK citizens.

Those who moved after this date will only be able to use healthcare services available to all other travellers (such as temporary registration with a GP). 

They cannot access a previous GP clinic they were signed up to (unless they sign up again) nor can they receive NHS treatment for free as they could as a resident, including planned healthcare treatments (operations, scheduled sessions with a physiotherapist, etc). 

In the latter case, taking out travel insurance is recommended (however, see above about possible reimbursement from your health caisse).

Americans living in France who visit the US

Americans do not benefit from any special provisions when returning to the US, and should obtain travel insurance as other visitors do. 

This applies even in cases where they are signed up to the French healthcare system. 

There are specific health and travel insurance policies for Americans abroad who frequently return home, offered by several insurers and organisations such as the AARO (Association of Americans Resident Overseas).