Ceam or Ghic: Which health card is right for Britons in France?

Reader Question: I tried to apply for a Ceam health travel card in France but was told by health authorities to get a UK Ghic instead. I have a carte Vitale, so assumed I was meant to get a card via the French system. What should I do? 

To clarify for readers who may be unaware, we are discussing health travel cards that provide access to urgent medical treatment for travellers in certain countries at the same level as for insured citizens, including for treatment cost.

The French version of this card is called a carte européenne d'assurance maladie (Ceam) and is valid across the EU/EEA, Switzerland, and the UK (although non-EU/UK citizens cannot use it in certain countries).

The UK version of the card is now (in most cases) called a Global Health Insurance Card (Ghic), and it can be used in the EU and Switzerland.

Card rights depend on a number of conditions 

Generally, people in the French healthcare system apply for a French Ceam. 

Note that this is not tied to a person's carte Vitale but rather their social security number – people who do not yet have a carte Vitale can still obtain a Ceam if they have signed up to their local French state health insurance body (Caisse primaire d'assurance maladie, or Cpam). 

However, where someone's healthcare is paid for by another EU state via the S1 form system (mostly for state pensioners of those states), they are asked to apply instead for the equivalent card from the state that pays for their healthcare.

The UK has retained similar arrangements as part of the Brexit agreements.

British retirees with a registered S1, should therefore apply for a card from the UK.

This is the case even if you live in France. 

This card will cover you outside of France (inside, you will still receive medical treatment through the state system/your insurance) in eligible countries. 

However, a British card will not cover you in the UK. 

Prior to Brexit, the UK had a rule that its retirees in the EU could use the NHS free of charge on visits, by presenting their S1, however, it has since stated that this will only apply to those who had registered a British S1 with an EU healthcare system prior to 2021.

The rule on 'free' UK care is also likely, due to Brexit Withdrawal Agreement (WA) protections, to apply to Britons living in the EU before 2021 who later on become pensioners and obtain UK S1s, however we are seeking confirmation from the UK on this point.

Read more: Do Britons lose access to NHS healthcare when moving to France?

Other groups who can use the NHS free of charge on visits include UK war pensioners and UK government employees.

It is worth noting that British people covered by the WA, such as those who were living in France before 2021, are still entitled to apply for a British 'Ehic' (European Health Insurance Card), the former name when the UK was in the EU.

These is, however, little difference from a Ghic, other than that a Ghic cannot be used in countries that belong to the EEA but not the EU, ie. Norway, Iceland and Liechtenstein.