Complementary health insurance being optional, not everyone has a third-party payment card. Also called coordinated health care, it is provided when subscribing to health insurance. How to read a health insurance card? How do I get a third-party payment card? What to do in case of theft and loss? Goodassur takes stock.
What is the difference between the vital card and the health insurance card?
The vital card is linked to health insurance, while the mutual insurance card is linked to your health insurer. They, therefore, have different but complementary missions.
What is the vital card used for?
In France, the French health system is managed by Social Security. Luckily, the state partially reimburses your health costs. The Social Security card, also called a vital card, allows you to send your health bill directly to the Health Insurance. You will therefore not have to pay the Social Security part. The virtual card is issued on your sixteenth birthday and is valid for life.
Reimbursements from Social Security are not always sufficient. This is where health insurance comes in, which will complement health insurance. Even if mutual insurance is not compulsory, it is essential to be better reimbursed for your health costs.
What is a third-party payment card from mutual health insurance used for?
Your mutual health insurance allows you to top up Social Security reimbursements. For this reason, presenting your third-party payment card allows you not to have to advance health costs since the bill is sent directly to your insurer.
A mutual insurance card is valid for one year and is renewed each year unless you request your complimentary health insurance termination. As a reminder, a letter of health insurance cancellation is necessary to make a mutual change, even if you use the Chatel law. Cancellation can be a helpful step to obtain better complementary health insurance.
Don’t forget to throw away your old card to replace it with the new one. Indeed, your old mutual health insurance card will no longer be functional.
What information is on the insurance card?
Even if a health insurance card is free, the background has elements in common. What are they? You will find :
- the name of your mutual insurance company;
- the contact details of your insurer;
- your membership number;
- the period of validity of your contract;
- information about insured persons.
In addition to this information, your health insurance card informs you of the reimbursement terms with numerous symbols and abbreviations:
- RO: Compulsory Scheme
- BR: Basis of Reimbursement
- FR: Actual Fees
- TM: Ticket Moderator
- TC: Convention rate
- PMSS: Monthly Social Security Ceiling
- PASS: Annual Social Security Ceiling
How to get a health insurance card?
To obtain a health insurance card, it is imperative to choose health insurance. When subscribing to health insurance, your insurer is required to provide you with a mutual insurance card.
For years, insurers used to send their mutual insurance card by mail. You can access a dematerialized health insurance card available in your personal space with new technologies. You can save it, print it, or send it.
What should I do if I have not received my third-party payment card? Check your personal space. Your insurer may never send you a third-party payment card since it is accessible online.
What to do in case of loss or theft of the health insurance card?
If you lose or steal your third-party payment card, you should contact an advisor from your complementary health insurance to tell him. He will initiate the process to send you a new health insurance card.
More and more insurers are putting your health insurance card online in your personal space. All you have to do is print it and find your third-party payment card. Online health supplements often set this system up.