FAQ_HEALTH

The International Student Welcome team has listed all the questions you might have about health care when you come to study at Aix-Marseille Université:

• Can I be reimbursed for my health expenses in France?
• What is covered by the French social security system?
• What is a social security number?
• What is a mutual insurance company?
• What's the difference between CPAM, Sécurité Sociale, Assurance Maladie, Améli and the Carte Vitale?
• Why and how to declare a doctor?
• What are the supporting documents required to join the social security system?
• Is there a medical support service at AMU?
• What facilities are there for students with disabilities?
• What emergency numbers do I need to know in France?
• What are the closest hospitals to AMU?
• What are the health measures related to COVID?
   
• Do you have another question? Visit the International Student Helpdesk!

Can I be reimbursed for my health expenses in France?

YES, YOU CAN. Whether you are a European or non-European student, you can be reimbursed for your health expenses in France. For Europeans, you must present your European health insurance card, which will reimburse you according to the same coverage as your country of origin. For students outside of Europe, you can benefit from the same coverage as French students by joining the French Social Security system.
For more information, go to the Health page.

How to register for social security?

Non-European international students must register for social security on the Ameli website available in French and English. All the details are available on our health page!

What is covered by the French social security system?

Within the framework of the coordinated care pathway and on the basis of the Social Security tariff, the usual reimbursement rates are

80% for hospitalization expenses,
70% for medical consultations and radiological examinations,
65% to 30% for drugs.

If you subscribe to a mutual insurance company, this insurance will reimburse you the rest.

What is a social security number?

Registration in the National Register of Identification of Natural Persons (RNIPP) results in the attribution of a registration number (NIR). The NIR is also called the "social security number". It is composed of 13 digits and is completed by a control key composed of 2 digits. If you were born abroad, the 2 digits of the department code are replaced by 99 and the commune code by an Insee code of the country of birth.

What is a mutual insurance ?

It is a complementary health insurance that can, when necessary, complete the reimbursements of the social security. It is a paying insurance but strongly recommended.
Go to our page on health procedures to find out more!

What's the difference between CPAM, Sécurité Sociale, Assurance Maladie, Améli and the Carte Vitale?

• Health Insurance is a branch of Social Security that insures individuals in the event of accident or illness. It provides compulsory health protection, guaranteeing you access to care whatever your resources, situation or state of health.
   
• The acronym CPAM stands for "caisse primaire d'assurance maladie (CPAM)". This is the name given to the departmental agencies of the Assurance Maladie.
   
• Ameli is the name of the Assurance Maladie website.
   
• As soon as you have obtained your definitive social security number, you can order your carte vitale directly online from your Ameli account, in the "mes démarches" section, or by post. Your carte Vitale contains all the information you need to have your healthcare costs reimbursed. By presenting it to your doctor, you can be sure of being automatically reimbursed within a week, with no need to send in a claim form. It is not a payment card, and contains no record of consultations, operations or test results.
   
• Mutuelle santé is a colloquial term for health insurance, also known as complementary health insurance. This insurance comes after reimbursement by the French health insurance system, and is designed to cover all or part of the costs not covered by basic compulsory health insurance. 

Why and how to declare an attending physician ?

The attending physician, freely chosen by all, keeps the patient's medical file up to date, coordinates the care pathway and centralizes the opinions of other caregivers. This is the doctor you will go to when you get sick (except in case of emergency, go to the hospital emergency room).
The declaration of choice of the attending physician can be made during your first appointment with the doctor. In agreement with the doctor, he or she can make the declaration online to your Caisse Primaire d'Assurance Maladie, during the consultation. It is simple and fast, your declaration of choice of doctor is immediately registered by your social security (Caisse Primaire d'Assurance Maladie).

To find a doctor, nothing could be simpler: make your appointment in a few clicks on the Doctolib platform.

What supporting documents do I need to provide in order to join the social security system ?

• A copy of your identity card (passport is also accepted)
• A bank account number
• A certificate of schooling
• A birth certificate

Is there a medical support service within AMU?

The University Service for Student Health (SSE) is open to all students registered at Aix-Marseille University. Its mission is to ensure the health follow-up of students and to develop prevention and health education actions.

Students registered at the university can thus benefit from

• nursing interviews
• medical consultations
• psychology consultations
• sophrology sessions
• oral and dental screening

What are the facilities for students with disabilities?

The Aix-Marseille Université Disability Mission welcomes and supports students with physical, sensory or psychological disabilities, dyslexia or a long-term disabling health problem. It offers measures adapted to each student throughout his or her university career. See the dedicated page for more information.

The SIUMPPS can issue certificates for study or exam accommodations for students with disabilities.

What emergency numbers do I need to know in France?

• SAMU - Emergency health service: 15
• Fire department - road accidents, fires, etc.: 18
• Gendarmerie - Police Emergency: 17
• European emergency services number: 112
• National Suicide Prevention number: 3114

Find all the French emergency numbers on the Service Public website.

You can also contact the Service pour le Respect et l'Egalité d'AMU ( Service for Respect and Equality at AMU), a service that provides assistance in situations of sexist and sexual violence, and all forms of discrimination and harassment, by telephone on 04 13 550 550 or by e-mail: respect-egalite@univ-amu.fr

Which are the closest hospitals to AMU?

Find all the addresses and contact information for hospitals in the region on the SIUMPPS page.

What are the health measures related to COVID?

Since August 1, 2022, the health control system at the borders has been lifted. We still recommend that you get fully vaccinated before your departure to facilitate your reception and your life in France.

In addition, rules are in place concerning the wearing of masks in certain places, consult the government website for more information.

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