The EHIC can be ordered in just a few clicks from the ameli account. Without access to this online space, the process changes radically: alternative channels exist, but their operational constraints are poorly documented. Here, we detail the procedures actually available to obtain an EHIC without going through the ameli portal, distinguishing the situations based on the time before departure.
Provisional replacement certificate: the little-known lever for departure within fifteen days
The provisional replacement certificate (PRC) remains the most underutilized document in EHIC procedures. It has the same legal value as the plastic card and covers healthcare under the same conditions as an insured person in the host country.
The CPAM issues a PRC upon request when departure is within less than fifteen days or when the renewal of the EHIC is blocked. This document is valid for three months and can be obtained by phone or in-person, without any connection to the ameli account.
We recommend explicitly requesting a PRC from the first phone contact. Advisors do not systematically offer it: they often direct towards creating an online account, which does not resolve the urgency of an imminent departure. The insured person who knows about the PRC saves considerable time in the exchange.
For insured individuals already abroad whose card has expired during their stay, the PRC can also be issued remotely. It is then sent by email in the form of a PDF document, to be presented to the healthcare professional in the host country.
Requesting an EHIC by phone and at CPAM counters
From France, the 36 46 is the unique number to contact Health Insurance. The service is free except for call costs. It allows you to initiate a request for an EHIC, obtain a PRC, or check your rights status, all without an ameli identifier.
It is possible to obtain a European health insurance card without an ameli account by providing the advisor with your social security number and an identification document. The plastic card is then sent by mail to your home, with a delivery time that varies according to the CPAM.
From abroad, the number to call is +33 1 84 90 36 46. This channel is particularly useful for insured individuals traveling who discover that their EHIC is expired or lost. The advisor can then initiate the issuance of a PRC electronically.
In-person service at the primary health insurance fund remains a solid option. You must present with:
- A valid identification document (national identity card or passport)
- Your social security number or, if not available, a recent rights certificate
- The dates and destination of the planned stay in the European Economic Area or Switzerland
The agent can both verify the opening of rights and initiate the order for the EHIC on-site. In case of a quick departure, they directly issue the printed PRC at the counter.
EHIC and special schemes: MSA, CRPCEN, student schemes
Insured individuals under the MSA, CRPCEN, or another special scheme do not depend on the ameli portal. Each fund has its own online space and its own EHIC ordering procedures. Confusing the portals is a frequent source of blockage.
The CRPCEN, for example, manages the EHIC request directly from the secure space of its affiliates. For clerks and notary employees without access to this space, the request is made by mail or by phone to the fund.
Students attached to the general scheme since the abolition of student mutuals theoretically go through ameli. Without an active account, the 36 46 or the CPAM counter remain direct alternatives. Some newly affiliated students have not yet received their definitive social security number, which blocks the creation of the online account. Visiting in person with a provisional affiliation document allows the situation to be unblocked.
Coverage of healthcare abroad with the EHIC: actual scope
The EHIC guarantees coverage of healthcare under the same conditions as a social insured person in the host country. This point is often misunderstood: the card does not align reimbursement with French rates; it aligns with local rates and rules.
In some countries, the out-of-pocket costs for a local insured person are significant. The EHIC does not cover the difference. A consultation with a doctor can therefore generate a higher out-of-pocket cost than in France, even with the card in hand.
- In countries where the healthcare system covers all costs, the EHIC avoids any upfront payments
- In countries with co-payments or local deductibles, the French insured pays the same share as residents
- Scheduled care (planned surgery, planned treatment) does not fall under the EHIC but requires prior authorization via the S2 form
The EHIC only covers medically necessary care during a temporary stay. Care related to repatriation or prolonged hospitalization falls under complementary travel insurance.
Insured individuals who settle permanently in another European country must use the S1 form, which allows registration in the health system of the country of residence. The EHIC is not designed for this situation and will be refused by local authorities if the stay exceeds the temporary framework.
For a departure in the coming days, the PRC remains the fastest solution. For a trip planned several weeks in advance, a call to 36 46 is enough to initiate the order for the plastic card without ever opening an online account.
