Social Security , sometimes called "Health Insurance", "CPAM" or "Ameli", is the French public health insurance system. Every employee with a French contract, regardless of their nationality, is entitled to it, as well as their spouse and children.
It covers a portion of medical expenses, depending on the type of procedure and the official reimbursement rate. The Carte Vitale facilitates reimbursement: it's a smart card that you present to the doctor or pharmacy.
Children under 16 are linked to their parents' Carte Vitale (they can be linked to both), and children over 16 have their own card.
The Carte Vitale is not a payment card : most of the time, you pay for your consultations or medications, and then Social Security reimburses you.
You can view the reimbursement rates via a summary table of reimbursements.
Health insurance or supplemental health insurance
Social Security does not reimburse all expenses. To supplement this coverage, it is necessary to take out private health insurance .
- It covers the portion of the costs not reimbursed by Social Security.
- Companies are required to offer health insurance to their employees, co-financed 50% by the employer and 50% by the employee .
- The more comprehensive the health insurance plan, the higher the reimbursement will be.
Chronologically, Social Security first reimburses its share, then the supplementary health insurance covers the remainder according to the contract subscribed.
How do I register for Social Security?
The entire process, from the initial application to receiving the Carte Vitale, generally takes 4 to 6 months if everything goes smoothly.
- Approximately 1 month after the file is opened, you will receive a temporary Social Security number .
- 6 to 8 weeks later , a form arrives by mail.
You will then need to:
- Check the information
- Sign the document
- Add a photo ID
- Attach a copy of your identity document
- Declare your primary care physician to benefit from better reimbursement
Three to six weeks later, you finally receive your Carte Vitale . From then on, reimbursements are automatic, without having to send any claim forms.
How to get reimbursed before using the Carte Vitale (French national health insurance card)?
Before receiving your Carte Vitale, you can use the treatment sheet provided by the doctor or pharmacy to obtain reimbursement.
Send it to your local CPAM (French health insurance office).
If you are in Paris:
CPAM of Paris
75948 Paris Cedex 19
If you are elsewhere: consult the CPAM addresses by department on Ameli .
Online tracking and management
Once registered with Social Security and equipped with your Carte Vitale (French health insurance card), you can create your personal account on the Ameli website to:
- Download your certificates of entitlement
- Order a new health insurance card in case of loss
- Track your refunds
- Declare or change your primary care physician
- Update your personal information
- Get help with all your Social Security-related procedures
Sofime support
Sofime Tip: Some consultations for children are free, such as dental appointments or preventative pediatric checkups. This allows families to monitor their children's health without additional costs.
At Sofime , we support you in all your health-related procedures:
- Registration or reactivation of your Social Security rights
- Ordering a Health Insurance Card
- Complete tracking of your reimbursements
- Attachment of your beneficiaries
- Choice and declaration of the attending physician
Our team guides you every step of the way to ensure your access to care is quick, safe and stress-free.
Have a question? Contact us for assistance.
