FRANCE | Emergency | Emergency services
Emergency services in general
Information (against payment) can be obtained via:
- 118-712 - France Telecom (Orange)
- 118-012 - The comprehensive directory
- 118-008 - Yellow Pages
In case of emergency, dial:
- 15 SAMU - Service d'Aide Médicale d'Urgence (Emergency Medical Aid Service)
- 17 Police and constabulary
- 18 Fire and emergency
- 112 SAMU or the fire-fighters (number for emergency calls in the EU)
The numbers given above are free of charge. Ambulatory medical care is provided by doctors who have their own practice and by public hospital ambulatory services or private clinics.
Insurances
All persons living in France have to subscribe to a health and accident insurance. Ask your health insurance company to tell you how you are insured and to explain you the procedure to claim the costs of any medical treatment.
The European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) gives students access to medically necessary healthcare during temporary stays in most European countries under the same conditions as local residents. It is free of charge and should be carried alongside your regular health insurance documents when completing an internship abroad.
As a student, an internship agreement must be signed between the company, the university and you. In this agreement, you will find regulations about insurances. In France, it is not necessarily the company's responsibility to subscribe you to an insurance against accidents at work. Therefore, check with the university whether the student insurance covers accidents at work in a foreign country. Otherwise, it would be better to take an additional insurance cover. During your internship period, you are not required to contribute towards retirement and unemployment.
Moreover, you should take the following insurance covers:
- Accident insurance for situations out of work (not covered by student insurance)
- Civil liability in case of material damages and bodily harm to thrid parties
- Theft insurance (recommended when renting an appartment)
Embassies
In case of specific emergencies, you can always contact the embassy or the consulate of your own country, not only to get the required information but also to ask for specific help (e.g. if you have been robbed or attacked and you need financial support).
Medical emergencies
Generally, the patients can choose the doctor and the specialists themselves. One can go there either during consulting hours or fix an appointment with the doctor. Contact numbers can be found in the yellow pages. When visiting a doctor at his clinic, you have to pay the medical fees for the consultation. The amount is normally between 20-40€ for simple treatment. The doctor gives you a claim form on which your illness and the required care are mentioned. Keep the papers and the receipt to be able to claim for reimbursement later on.
Do not forget to ask for a health certificate if you are not able to perform work during your illness; the employer will ask for it after three days of absence.