What kind of information is stored on the Carte Vitale?

THE CARTE VITALE – the green-coloured card with a chip that you use to obtain medical reimbursements, contains the following information:

• Your personal details and those of your dependents aged under 16
• Your social security number
• Your social security caisse (eg. Cpam)
• If applicable, your right to any exoneration from being charged the part of costs that is usually non-reimbursable by the state (called the ticket modérateur) – eg. due to a serious long-term illness or pregnancy or having a right to the CMU-C or ACS schemes due to having a fairly modest income
• If you have one of the new-style cards with your photo on it (known officially as the Carte Vitale 2) this may also contain details of: your GP (médecin traitant), any mutuelle top-up insurance, your next of kin, information on your rights in the EU, details of work accidents or work-related illnesses, a note saying whether you have been told your rights with regard to organ donation.

This information is accessible to your caisse or to health professionals who you consult. You can also see it at automatic information points (bornes) at the offices of your caisse.

The health service says you should update your Carte Vitale annually, in order to make sure the details it contains are still accurate, at whatever date suits you. They say doing so makes sure you will get the correct reimbursement, rapidly (within five days).

You should also update it if you have important life changes like a change of address (as soon as your new caisse has made contact with you), a new child, a new
job, marriage etc.

You can update it at pharmacies or in the bornes at the health caisse.