‘Make healthcare card useful for EU travel’

Any European citizen in France planning to travel within the EU can currently apply for a Carte Européenne d’Assurance Maladie (Ceam) card, which lasts for two years.

It shows the holder’s right to health insurance across the EU.

All travellers, including under 16s, are advised to carry one.

It allows you to benefit from medical care in accordance with local legislation.

The UK equivalent is a European Health Insurance Card (Ehic), which lasts for five years.

Now MP Sabine Thillaye has called for Ceam information to be included as standard on French residents’ carte vitale health cards, ending the need to apply for a separate one.

Ms Thillaye said: “Such a provision would allow an administrative simplification for users, as well as for the administrative services responsible for managing the delivery of Ceams, and for each citizen to attest to their rights in a uniform manner.

“The objective would raise awareness of the portability of certain rights within the Union.”

Such a system already exists in some other countries, including Germany.

Meanwhile, a smartphone app to replace the physical green cartes vitales is being trialled in the Rhône and Alpes-Maritimes departments.

If successful, it will be rolled out nationally in 2021.