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HEALTH

CEAM: How to get a French European health insurance card

Before Brexit, many UK nationals living in France relied on their European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) to cover their healthcare. But since January, things have changed - here's what you need to know.

Published: 4 February 2021 10:42 CET
CEAM: How to get a French European health insurance card
The card covers you if you need medical treatment while abroad. Photo: AFP

What is an EHIC?

The European Health Insurance Card basically means EU countries picking up the tab for medical costs of each other's citizens while they are visiting.

It's intended for emergency or unplanned medical treatments and there's plenty that it doesn't cover, including cruises and the cost of repatriation so you should always have travel insurance as well for trips away.

What changes?

Since the UK left the EU its citizens are no longer covered by the scheme – however the trade deal published on Christmas Eve 2020 did contain some good news about EHICs.

UK nationals living in the UK and just visiting the EU can continue to use their existing EHIC cards until they expire. They then need to apply for a new card known as a GHIC – applications can be made online HERE.

UK nationals living in France can continue to use an EHIC only if they fall into one of the following groups;

  • a UK State Pensioner or receiving some other exportable benefits, and you have a registered S1 form or E121
  • a frontier worker (someone who works in one state and lives in another) and you've been one since before 1 January 2021, for as long as you continue to be a frontier worker in the host state, and you’re eligible for an S1 form or E106
  • a worker posted to work in another EU country, Norway, Iceland, Liechtenstein or Switzerland by your UK employer, and you've been there since before 1 January 2021, where the country has agreed to let the posting continue
  • an eligible family member or dependant of one of the above
  • a UK student studying in the EU, Norway, Iceland, Liechtenstein or Switzerland, and you've been there since before 1 January 2021

These groups will all have to apply for a new card that specifies their right to it under the Withdrawal Agreement – more on how to do that HERE.

UK nationals living in France who do not fall into one of those groups need to apply for a French card, the carte européen d'assurance maladie or CEAM.

How to apply

First you need to be registered within the French healthcare system. Hopefully people who are full time residents in France are already registered within the system and have a carte vitale, but if not you can find out how to do it HERE.

Once registered within the system you can create an account on the online portal ameli.fr. This is useful for all sorts of things including keeping track of your claims, getting the latest health bulletins and downloading the attestation that shows you have up-to-date health cover in France. 

Once registered on the site, head to the mes informations section. You will see the Carte européen d'assurance maladie section which, if you do not have one, gives you the option to order one. It will then be sent by post to the address you have registered.

The cards only last for two years, so you can also use this site to check the expiry date on yours and order another one if necessary.

This card will cover you for all trips within the EU, the EEA and Switzerland. It will also cover you should you need medical treatment on trips back to the UK – although as with the EHIC it doesn't cover everything and shouldn't be regarded as a substitute for travel insurance.

 

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PROPERTY

How to ensure your French property is insured for storm damage

Storm Ciaran’s property-wrecking passage through France - with another storm forecast for the weekend - may have many people wondering how comprehensive their insurance cover is. 

Published: 3 November 2023 15:45 CET
How to ensure your French property is insured for storm damage

In the wake of Storm Ciaran, thousands of property owners in France are preparing insurance claims – with initial estimates of the bill for damage between €370 million and €480 million.

Home insurance is compulsory in France, whether you own the property you live in or you rent – and it must include some level of storm damage cover. 

Check also to see if your insurance provides cover in case of a declaration of a catastrophe naturelle.

The garantie tempête (storm guarantee) covers damage caused by violent winds. What constitutes a ‘violent wind’ varies from contract to contract, but there appears to be a widespread consensus of agreement on wind speeds over 100km/h.

In most insurance contracts, this covers damage caused by the storm and within the following 48 hours – so you’re covered if, for example, a tree weakened by the storm comes down within that period and damages your property.

Be aware that, while the storm guarantee automatically covers the main property, it generally only covers any secondary buildings and light constructions – such as a veranda, shed, solar panels, swimming pool or fence – if they are specifically mentioned in the contract. 

The same is true of any cars damaged by debris. A basic insurance contract might not include storm damage, so it is always worth checking.

Damage must be reported to your insurer as quickly as possible. The deadline for making declarations is usually five days after any damage is noticed. This is especially important for second home owners, who may not be at the property when the damage occurs. 

In some cases – such as in the aftermath of Storm Ciaran – insurers may extend the reporting period. But under normal circumstances, it’s five days after the damage has been discovered.

What happens next

To make a claim, the first thing to do is contact your insurer by phone or email. Your insurer will take you through the next steps, but usually you have to send in a declaration – which should include an estimate of any losses and for any repairs, with evidence where possible, such as photographs and any receipts for purchases. 

Your insurer may also request proof of wind intensity, which can be provided for example by a nearby weather station.

The insurance company may appoint an expert to come and assess the damage, so make sure to keep damaged property safe until they arrive, as well as all invoices for any urgent repair work. 

What if you’re a tenant?

If you rent your property, you must report any damage inside the accommodation to your insurer and also notify your landlord so that they can file their own claim. 

In the case of a co-propriete, you must declare damage inside the accommodation to your insurer, while the trustee sends his own declaration to the collective insurance (which sometimes covers the private areas) .

How long does it take for claims to be settled?

Payment of the compensation provided for by the “storm guarantee” depends your home insurance contract. After the insurer has estimated the amount of damage, compensation is generally paid between 10 and 30 days following receipt of the insured’s agreement.

What if we got flooded?

In the case of flooding, you may have to wait for a natural disaster order to be issued. 

Catastrophe naturelle

The ‘state of natural disaster’ is a special procedure that was set up in 1982 so victims of exceptional natural events, such as storms, heavy rain, mudslides and flooding, as well as drought, can be adequately compensated for damage to property.

The government evaluates each area and deems whether it qualifies for the status of catastrophe naturelle (natural disaster). 

Essentially once a zone is declared a natural disaster, victims can claim from a pot of funds created by all insurers. If the zone is not declared a disaster, insurance companies are under no obligation to pay out. 

Under a “state of natural disaster” residents are covered for all those goods and property that are directly damaged by the phenomenon, in this case storms.

It applies to residential or commercial buildings, furniture, vehicles and work equipment that are already covered by insurance policies.

Homes must be already covered by a multi-risk insurance policy for the status of natural disaster to count.

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