Social Security provides foreign students with health coverage while studying in France. To increase the amount of the healthcare expenses reimbursed, you can choose to take out complementary health insurance, or mutuelle.
How to see a doctor
Within the university there is a health service: the SUMPPS (the University Department of Preventive Medicine and the Promotion of Health). You can make an appointment with a doctor there. Some visits are free, including for contraception, testing, vaccinations, nutrition and psychological monitoring.
Outside of your university, you can get contact information for a doctor and make an appointment online on the doctolib website
If you have questions about sexuality, sexual relations, love or contraception, contact the Planning Familial (Family Planning), an association that offers free and confidential check-ups. Women in particular may obtain a prescription for contraception and obtain the morning-after pill if necessary. Family Planning has branches everywhere in France.
Here are a few important numbers
- 112 - The European emergency number
- 15 - The SAMU (Service d’Aide Médicale Urgente - Emergency Medical Service)
- 17 - The police
- 18 - The Fire Brigade (emergency services)
- 3624 - House-call doctor if you are too ill to travel. This service is available 24/7
How to benefit from social security
European students
If you already have a European Health Insurance Card (EHIC), you don't need to register to the French social security. You can use this card to receive care in France. It must be requested in your country of origin and be valid until at least the end of the academic year.
The students included are citizens of the European Union, Iceland, Lichtenstein, Norway and Switzerland.
Non-European students
Since 2018, international non-European students are included in the general healthcare scheme. You can benefit from French social security and the reimbursement of your medical fees, no matter which type of visa you hold.
You must register on the French general social security system. This is a mandatory step. You will be issued a carte vitale (social security card) to benefit from reimbursments. You can also subscribe to a healthcare mutual fund for a better reimbursement of your medical expenses (see below).
Registration is done online by logging in to the website of the health insurance dedicated to foreign students, called Ameli. Registration is free. You must complete your registration immediately after enrolling at your institution and after the validation of your visa.
Reimbursement of your healthcare expenses
After your registration, your medical fees will be reimbursed by up to 60%. You can track your reimbursements and find additional information by creating your account on ameli.fr.
How to subscribe to a complementary health insurance
The choice to subscribe to a complementary health insurance to top up the reimbursements of your medical expenses is entirely up to you. It is not mandatory, but it is recommended.
It's up to you to complete the subscription process. Start by asking for a quote, and compare the offers. You can do so with:
- Traditional student healthcare mutuals
- Insurance companies
- Banks
Our advice
Check that the health insurance offers a civil liability valid for both your private and student life. That way, you'll be covered for your place of study and the place of your internship.