Special health coverage

Health insurance for people in difficulties

The French state provides health care for all people living in France. In some cases, you might even benefit from special programs for people in financial difficulties.

If you are not covered by the system of your country of origin and are not eligible for basic social security schemes (which include health insurance), you might benefit from two specific health care systems, Universal Health Insurance Coverage (CMU) or State Health Aid (AME).

CMU, Universal Health Insurance

French residents not covered by other insurance may be eligible for CMU (Couverture Maladie Universelle) coverage, which provides sickness and maternity coverage to the same extent as the general social security schemes. They are two types of CMU:

Basic CMU (CMU de base)
You pay medical expenses and are reimbursed according to defined rates (see our Guide to the Health Insurence in France). If the annual household income is less then €6,721 this is free. If higher, a small level of contributions is payable.
Supplementary CMU (CMU complémentaire)
Affiliation to the supplementary CMU is free if you qualify and no payment is required for any medical expanses (doctors, prescribed medicines, hospitalisation, etc.).

Monthly household income must be under a certain level (revised periodically - figures from 1st July 2003 below) depending on the number of household members:
1 person: €566.50
2 persons: €849.75
3 persons: €1,019.70
4 persons : €1,189.65
for more then 4 persons: €226.60 for each additional person

To be eligible for either CMU you must have:

uninterrupted residence in France for at least three months (receipts for accommodation/telephone/electricity bills, etc.); People without a home or in temporary/mobile accommodation should contact their local CCAS (Centre Communal d'Action Sociale) to get the required documentation (attestation de domiciliation)
national identity card and/or passport for EU/EEA citizens and/or residence permit (titre de séjour, carte de séjour)
proof of household income

How to apply for CMU?

You should submit your application to one of the following organizations: Caisse d'Assurance Maladie (state health insurance body), CCAS (Centre Communal d'Action Sociale), local Town Hall (Mairie), local Social Services, some hospitals or other heath care providers. The application should include:

completed form n° S 3710 'Couverture maladie universelle - Protection de base' for basic CMU, or forms n° S 3711, S 3712 and S 3713 for Complementary CMU
photocopy/ies of ID documentation of all household members (with photo for adults)
proof of residence (for non-EU/EEA citizens)
declaration of household income

If the application is accepted, you will get a CMU certificate and a Carte Vitale, which allows you access to healthcare to the same extent as the general social security scheme. For more information go to the CMU website: www.cmu.fr (in French only).

AME, State Health Aid

AME (Aide Médicale de l'Etat) ensures basic health care for illegal foreign residents, you may be eligible if:

you prove that you have been living in France at least three months (e.g. an expired visa, passport, notification of asylum request refusal, a child's enrolment in a school, Electricity/Gas invoice, etc.)
your monthly household income is under a set level (revised annually) during the 12 months before requesting AME - The level depends on the number of person leaving in the household and is the same as for the CMU complémentaire.

How to apply for AME?

You should submit your application to one of the following organizations: your local Caisse d'Assurance Maladie, CCAS (Centre Communal d'Action Sociale), local Town Hall (Mairie), local Social Services, some hospitals or other heath care service providers

The application must include:

A completed N° S 3720 'Demande d'Aide médicale de l'Etat' form
photocopy/ies of ID documentation of all household members (with photo for adults)
proof of residence (if homeless or in temporary accommodation contact you local CCAS (Centre Communal d'Action Sociale) who will provide the relevant documentation
proof of household income for the previous 12 months

If your application is accepted, you will be covered for one year. It is renewable, if you continue to qualify. Renewal should be applied for two months before cover expires.

AME means you do not pay for any medical expenses (doctors, prescribed medicines, hospitalisation, etc.). You do not receive a French Social Security number, Carte Vitale or health coverage in other EU/EEA states.

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