Be prepared for healthcare costs during visits abroad

A CEAM covers all essential health needs during a stay in the EU, allowing you to get healthcare on the same basis as a resident of the country you are visiting.
If you are in a country requiring upfront payment you may apply for reimbursement from the country as residents do. In many EU countries however there may be nothing to advance for standard care. In the UK you may be charged if you do not show a card, notably for non-emergency hospital care.

Obtaining a CEAM from your Cpam takes a week but you should apply at least two weeks before travelling. If you have an account on ameli.fr you may request a card from your personal space. The self-employed should apply to their own caisse.

Each person travelling needs their own card. The CEAM lasts two years, compared to five years for the British EHIC.
British pensioners or other expats who have their French healthcare funded by the UK via the S1 form scheme need British EHICs (in this case these are not to be used in France, but should be presented if seeking healthcare elsewhere in the EU).

The cover offered by CEAMs/EHICs is basic and is not a replacement for travel insurance. This is usually offered as an option when you buy flights and package holidays with key points being cancellation and repatriation, both of which may also be covered by your credit card companies (however do check the amount of cover and any excess). Some private travel insurers insist you have an EHIC as well or will waive any excess if you have one.

If you seek healthcare without an EHIC/CEAM while abroad in the EU, on your return you should be able to get your medical costs reimbursed by Cpam, but you must keep all your receipts. Refunds will not be more than the French rates.

Early-retirees using comprehensive private healthcare in France are not entitled to EHICs/CEAMs, so travel insurance is all the more important for them.
If you are travelling outside the EU then healthcare will have to be paid for upfront. On your return your Cpam may agree to reimburse urgent and unpredictable healthcare costs up to French rates. Bear in mind that in some countries such as the USA medical care is very expensive, so taking out a private policy may be essential.

In which case, check any cover provided by your credit cards (this is higher with premium cards). Rather than relying on this, or as a complement to it, travel insurance with firms like Europ Assistance, Mondial Assistance or Mutuaide Assistance typically provides cover up to €75,000 of medical costs for a fee per person and per trip at costs which vary depending on the destination. They also cover costs of bringing you home on a medicalised plane, which may be preferable to having medical care in the country you are visiting.

In the case of an accident abroad it is advisable to immediately contact your travel insurer for their advice.

British residents visiting France should ensure that they have an EHIC from the UK but may wish to consider travel cover for the part typically covered by ‘top-up’ insurance for French residents.
Visitors with a British EHIC who have had to make upfront payments should apply for refunds by visiting the local French Cpam office in person or sending in paperwork along with their bank details. The payment will be made into their bank.

There will no longer be upfront payments for the reimbursed part of doctors’ visits in France from November 30, 2017.