What formalities for health costs abroad?

When you go on vacation, there are essential steps:looking at travel blogs to choose your destination, arguing about who will have the right to the window on the plane, etc., but the most important is the one concerning your possible health costs. Are you well covered in the event of an accident, illness or minor ailments abroad? Here is a guide to take all the necessary precautions if you go on vacation outside of France.

How Bad Health Coverage Can Ruin Your Vacation

Summer holidays are coming soon and you are impatiently awaiting them… But all it takes is one foot that slips on a stone, a missed step or a nasty insect bite for the holidays to be ruined. When you are in a foreign country, minor ailments, illnesses and accidents can hurt your wallet a lot.

The proof ? If you are going abroad, here are some examples of what healthcare costs in different countries could cost you:

• In the United States, expect an average of between $80 and $100 for a consultation. A hospitalization will cost you at least $1,000 and the bill can climb very quickly if surgery is necessary.
• In Canada, a simple consultation can cost from 30 to 700 euros.
• In Thailand, the price of a consultation is more or less the same as in France. On the other hand, if you are hospitalized, you will have to pay at least 1,000 euros for three days.

Even if accidents and illnesses happen without warning, it is best to take all the necessary precautions in order to travel peacefully.

What should be planned to avoid unforeseen health expenses?

To deal with a possible accident, it is necessary to take some precautions before leaving on a trip. Note that healthcare coverage is different depending on the country where you plan to go (European Union or outside the European Union). Here are all our tips to be best protected:

Make sure you are up to date with your vaccinations :before leaving for a foreign country, take stock of your mandatory (diphtheria, tetanus, poliomyelitis) and recommended (pertussis, measles, mumps, rubella, hepatitis B, etc.) vaccines. Depending on the country you plan to visit, you will need to get additional vaccinations (yellow fever, cholera, typhoid fever, hepatitis A, malaria, etc.).

Check what your complementary health plan provides :one of the first formalities to do before going on vacation is to check what your health coverage does or does not cover. Read your insurance contract carefully to find out about the reimbursement limits, the deductible, the conditions, etc.

Apply for the European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) :Are you planning to travel to a country in the European Union? Get the EHIC. You can request it online at ameli.fr. Count about two weeks between the request and the reception. This card is valid for two years. Please note that the EHIC is nominative. So you need one per traveler.

What is the bilateral security agreement?

In case you are traveling to a country outside the EU, European Economic Area (EEA) or Switzerland, there are two options:

• If the country has signed a bilateral social security agreement with France, medical costs are covered according to the conditions indicated in the agreement. Learn about the content of the agreement.
• If the country has not signed a bilateral agreement, all medical costs will be your responsibility. When you return to France, you will provide the prescriptions, invoices and supporting documents to your health insurance fund with form S3125. Note that Social Security will only reimburse you for urgent and unforeseen care.

To prevent your vacation from turning into a nightmare or a money pit, a few precautions should be taken before you go abroad. Do not hesitate to contact your complementary health insurance to avoid being fleeced!