Medical care abroad: the reimbursement process now possible online

Medical care abroad: the reimbursement process now possible online

You have recently stayed abroad ? No more paperwork, no more long months waiting for reimbursement for treatment. From now on, the process is also carried out online on the Ameli website and it promises to go much faster.

Because coverage for medical expenses abroad differs depending on whether you are traveling in Europe or in another more distant country, a wise traveler is worth two. If you are considering a temporary stay in one of the countries of the European Economic Area (EEA): Germany, Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Cyprus, Croatia, Denmark, Spain, Estonia, Finland, France, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Iceland, Italy, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Norway, Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Czech Republic, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Sweden), Switzerland or United Kingdom, map European Health Insurance (EHIC) allows care to be covered under the same conditions as a social insured person in this country.

If you are considering a vacation outside the European Economic Area

On the other hand, outside Europe, you will have to pay medical costs on site, regardless of whether it is hospital or outpatient care, in the public sector or private. You must keep all supporting documents for health expenses and present them on your return to the Health Insurance Fund, accompanied by the Cerfa form n°12267. This will then be able to cover the care received. Reimbursement of care will be granted or not after verification of your situation and within the limit of the flat rates applied in France. This reimbursement can be supplemented by mutual insurance.

A refund request possible online since May 2024

Previously, it was necessary to send all the supporting documents to the health insurance fund by post, crossing your fingers for several months so that nothing was lost. Digitization of services requires, it is finally possible to carry out these procedures in a simplified and rapid manner on the Ameli website.

Thus, completing your procedure online allows you to send your care forms securely and obtain reimbursement more quickly.

If you have already made a paper request for reimbursement for treatment abroad, you do not need to renew it on the Ameli account. And if neither paper nor digital is possible, or the situation is particularly complex, you can also make an appointment with the Health Insurance Fund so that someone can help you with the constitution of this file.

The 3-step approach

1 – From your Ameli space, access the service in the section "Request reimbursement for treatment abroad".

2 – submit your invoices and supporting documents: paid and detailed invoices for the services provided (medical prescriptions (for medicines and pharmacy care, medical equipment, paramedical care, etc.).

In the event of treatment scheduled before your stay, attach the prior authorization for treatment issued by the Health Insurance Fund (form S2, dialysis authorization, DA1, etc.) .

3 – Validate your request.

Finally, before leaving, take precautions to be insured if you fall ill outside of Europe. You must find out about the health status of the country and any medical costs you may be responsible for. In some countries, care, particularly hospital care, is very expensive. It is therefore prudent to be covered by an insurance or assistance contract.

To find out more:

Holidays abroad: how to be well insured ?