Health Insurance
You must have health insurance to study in France.
A – Students from a country in the European Union or the European Economic Area
Students who have the EHIC (European Health Insurance Card) are insured in their home country and do not need to sign up for the French student social security system.
Students who have a certificate translated into French proving that they have a conventional health insurance plan or private insurance (valid at least until the end of the academic year) are insured and do not need to sign up for the French student social security system.
B – Students from a country outside the European Union and Switzerland
All students must be affiliated to the French student social security system for the whole academic year, even if they are already affiliated to a foreign public plan or a French or foreign private insurance plan.
The social security fee is an annual flat fee: €217.
Students who come to EIGSI for less than 3 months are not covered by the student health insurance plan. Therefore, they must take out insurance in their home country that is valid in France.
Student social security is managed by student social security providers, known as “mutuelles“. You have the choice between SMERRA and LMDE (you sign up at EIGSI).
After completing your affiliation, the mutuelle sends you an insurance card known as the “Carte Vitale”.
Social security
Your mutuelle manages your student social security and reimburses you for a part of your basic health care expenditures. However, it does not reimburse you for additional services. It covers only 70-80% of medical expenses and only a small amount of hospital costs.
You must purchase additional top-up insurance from your mutuelle. The cost varies between €66 and €414 per year depending on the services covered.
Personal liability and accident insurance
All students must take out personal accident and liability insurance in France.
This insurance can be purchased as part of your household insurance (from banks and student mutuelles) or through “student life” insurance packages from student mutuelles (about €16 per year).
