Getting a carte vitale is paramount. You’ll need it to go to the GP, pharmacy, hospital … here is a quick and easy way to get one. Some people think it’s complicated. It is if you look closely at all the institutions and types of allocations that you can get. However, it’s friggin easy if you just follow these steps.
What is a carte vitale ?
Why do you need a carte vitale ?
- It will help you navigate the french health system. You’ll have to present it when you go to the doctor, when you go to the pharmacy.
- This will facilitate the reimbursements whenever you have a doctor’s visit because you always have to pay upfront and then get your reimbursement (60% to 70% of the amount). When you have your carte vitale, it is done automatically and the funds are automatically wired back on your bank account. Otherwise, it’ll be a pain for you, because you’ll need to mail in some papers to the french public insurance, the sécurité sociale.
- Lastly, it stores information about all the doctors you have seen and medicine you have ordered. This will be a great help to follow through on your treatments whenever you go and see another specialist.
What does a carte vitale look like ?
It’s like a credit card for health and it fits perfectly in your wallet for you to carry around at all time.
On it, you’ll find your social security number which is quite useful. Because it’s a long number and nobody remembers it by heart. There is also mentioned the name of the person(s) covered by the insurance. Indeed, if you have kids under 16, they are registered and get health insurance via their parents.
Is it mandatory ?
It is mandatory to have health insurance provided by the state (yep and nobody will ever reverse that, wink to our American friends). Whatever your situation, if you’re an employee, unemployed, your own boss or a student, you’ll need to have health insurance.
Is it free ?
To get it, yep. But some costs may apply, especially to translate some documents into french.
How long does it last ?
All your life in France.
How can I get a carte vitale ?
The conditions to apply
You need to :
- Have spent more than three months in the country
- Be over 16
- Own a bank account in France
- Have your numéro de sécurité sociale, When you get you Social Security Number, you’ll get a paper form to request it. You can toss the paper if you follow the online process.
What documents do I need ?
- A copy of your passport
- Your picture
- Proof you have lived in France more than three months. This is a “justificatif de domicile”. It can be an electricity bill, a copy of your lease etc…
- Your relevé d’identité bancaire (RIB) so you can get reimbursed.
How to apply to get a carte vitale ?
The whole process can be done online.
The go-to website for your national health insurance is called ameli.fr (you might know that freaky movie of that Parisian girl with the short black hair called Amélie, but that website simply stands for “Assurance Maladie En LIgne” – health insurance online. Creative!). You can also do it on the dedicated app on your phone.
That’s when the trouble may begin, because the whole process is in french but I’ll help you to navigate through all the steps.
Step 1 : Create your account on Ameli.fr
Fill everything that is asked of you with your personal info etc.
Step 2 : Begin the process
Get on the website and look for the procedure to request a Carte Vitale.
It’s either in the frequent process in the middle of the page or, if you don’t find it click on :
- “Remboursement, prestations et soins” => Reimbursement
- “Être bien remboursé” => Getting reimbursed
- Carte vitale
- Finally click on “Commander une carte vitale” => Order a Carte Vitale
You can also find it in your personal space, there is an item “Mes démarches” and on the left a section “Carte Vitale”, click on it.
Step 3 : Fill in and check the info
Select the person whom you want to order a carte vitale for. Some info should be displayed. Just check it’s the right one, correct if you need and then upload the copy of your ID and you picture.
You’ll just need to validate your order in the end. That’s it.
You’ll receive your card within 2 weeks and in the meantime you can follow your order on ameli.fr.
Do I need to update my carte vitale ?
Yes and you have two ways to do it :
- Classic update : You’ll need to do that about once every year. It’s very easy. You can do it in every pharmacy or when you have a doctor’s visit.
- Update the beneficiary of the carte vitale : This happens when you have a child covered on your own carte vitale until he or she is 16.
What if I lose my carte vitale ?
No worries, just go to ameli.fr, in your personal space, you can declare the loss or theft of your carte vitale.
Tips and tricks
- Please don’t call it the vital card
- You can do the whole process either on the app or the website of AMELI, don’t register or give any information on any other platform.
- Update your carte vitale every year. You can do so in a pharmacy or during a doctor’s visit
- Never send the original documents, always copies.
- When you get you Social Security Number, you’ll get a paper form to request a Carte Vitale. You can toss the paper if you follow the online process.
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