Social security system
Complementary health insurance (“complémentaire santé”or“mutuelle”)
Universal Health Insurance (“Couverture Maladie Universelle”)
Other possibilities of health insurance

  Social security system

The French social security is one of the most efficient in the world. All employees, foreign or French, benefit of the Social Security for healthcare in case of sickness or accident.This service is paid for mainly by the employer and by the employee.

If you are an employee, you must subscribe to the general social security system through the Caisse Primaire d’Assurance Maladie (CPAM) of your residence. The fees are automatically taken from your salary. You will receive a social security number and a card which will allow you, your wife/husband and young children (less than 16 years old, or 20 years old if they are students) to be reimbursed

If you are a grant-holder, you are not considered as an employee in France and you should subscribe to a private insurance or be insured in your home country.

Scientists who are not employees but study in France can, under certain conditions, benefit of the student security system.

For further administrative information:

The social security usually reimburse only part of the cost of the healthcare. Certain cares are poorly or not at all reimbursed (vaccins, glasses, dental protheses, ...). It is therefore advised (but not compulsary) to subscribe a complementary health insurance. There are many possibilities, varying in the amount of reimbursement.

  Universal Health Insurance (“Couverture Maladie Universelle”)

The CMU applies to people who are not employee. The basic CMU insures people in the same way as the general social security system for employees. It is free for people earning less than 6721 euros per year and is open to foreigners who do not benefit of social security in their home country and who have stayed legally in France for at least 3 months. A residence permit or a proof of application for a residence permit (récépissé de demande de carte de séjour) are necessary. People who are not nationals of the European Union also need a long stay visa. The CMU must be applied for at the CPAM and is effective just after application, for the applicant and his close family.

  Other possibilities of health insurance

Nationals of the European Union or the european Economic Area (EEA) who benefit of the social security in their home country can have their healthcares in France reimbursed. They must come to France with a "E128" form which must be presented with their healthcares bills to the office of international relations at the CPAM. The rate of reimbursement is the same as in the general social security system.

Scientists from non European Union countries that have signed a "convention de réciprocité" can also be reimbursed in France. A certificate should be obtained before departure from the social security to which the scientist is affiliated in the home country. The reimbursement can be obtained by presenting this certificate together with the bills at the office of international relations of the CPAM.

Before depature, it is sometimes possible to obtain a private insurance in your home country that will cover you in France. In this case, bring with you the certificate of insurance.

It is also possible to subscribe a private health insurance in France. It is advised to compare several offers. The Kastler foundation has negociated a particular insurance for scientists (www.cnrs.fr/fnak).