Updated October 2026 · 8 min read · By Centre International d’Antibes
International students can visit doctors, receive medical treatment and access hospitals in France, but healthcare is not automatically free. What you pay depends on your circumstances, your existing coverage and the treatment you receive.
If you're coming to France for a short language stay, having suitable health insurance is an important part of preparing for your trip.
At Centre International d'Antibes, students aged 12–30 can now add optional APRIL health insurance for €59 per week when booking their French course. It covers eligible illnesses, accidents and medical treatment during their stay, subject to the insurance conditions.
But do you actually need additional insurance? What happens if you get sick? And how much could a visit to a French hospital cost?
Here's what international students and parents should know before arriving in France.
France has a public healthcare system known as Assurance Maladie, part of the French Sécurité sociale.
However, being an international student doesn't automatically mean you're registered with it or entitled to free medical treatment.
Your healthcare coverage depends on your home country, the type of studies you're undertaking, your residence status and the insurance you already have.
If you're insured under an eligible European healthcare system, you may already have access to a European Health Insurance Card (EHIC).
The European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) allows eligible visitors to receive medically necessary public healthcare during a temporary stay in France, under the same conditions and at the same cost as people insured locally.
That sounds straightforward, but there's an important detail: the EHIC is not the same as comprehensive travel insurance.
It does not automatically cover private healthcare, medical repatriation, planned treatment or all the costs that may remain payable by the patient.
For example, you could receive treatment in France using your EHIC and still have certain medical expenses to pay.
Additional insurance can therefore be worth considering, depending on the protection you already have.
Students travelling from outside Europe should check their healthcare coverage carefully before departure.
Some students already have international medical insurance through their family, employer or another provider. Others need to arrange separate protection.
Depending on your nationality and visa situation, health insurance may also be a requirement for entering France.
For short-stay Schengen visas, applicants subject to the insurance requirement generally need coverage of at least €30,000, including emergency medical treatment, hospitalisation and medical repatriation.
You can check the official short-stay Schengen visa insurance requirements through France-Visas.
It's important to verify that your insurance meets the requirements applicable to your particular trip.
This is where many online guides become confusing.
Most information about international student healthcare focuses on university students spending several months or years in France.
Eligible international students attending French higher education institutions may be able to register for French Social Security.
But attending a two-week French language course is not necessarily the same as enrolling in a French university.
If you're coming to Antibes for one, two or several weeks of French lessons, you should not assume that your course automatically makes you eligible for French public health insurance.
Instead, check your existing coverage or arrange suitable insurance for the duration of your stay.
France has an extensive network of doctors, pharmacies, clinics and hospitals.
International visitors can seek medical treatment, even if they're not registered with French Social Security.
However, the costs and reimbursement procedures can vary significantly.
Imagine you've just arrived in Antibes.
You've explored the old town, enjoyed your first French lessons, perhaps eaten one too many pastries, and suddenly you wake up with a fever.
Not exactly the French immersion experience you had planned.
For common illnesses, you would generally arrange an appointment with a general practitioner, called a médecin généraliste in French.
The doctor can examine you, recommend treatment and prescribe medication if necessary.
You can then take your prescription, or ordonnance, to a pharmacy.
French pharmacies are easy to recognise thanks to their illuminated green crosses.
For minor health concerns, a pharmacist can also offer advice and help you decide whether a medical consultation is necessary.
Medical prices in France depend on the healthcare professional, the treatment and whether the practitioner follows regulated tariffs.
Here are some useful reference amounts for 2026:
| Medical expense | Reference amount |
|---|---|
| Standard GP consultation (Sector 1) | €30 |
| Emergency department patient charge, without hospital admission | €23 |
| Daily hospital charge in a hospital or clinic | €23 |
| Specialist consultation | Varies by specialty and tariff |
| Prescribed medication | Depends on the medication |
These are official reference tariffs or patient charges, not guaranteed total prices for uninsured visitors. Additional costs and exemptions may apply.
Under the standard coordinated-care rules, an eligible adult covered by French Social Security would normally receive €19 back for a €30 GP consultation, after the €2 statutory contribution.
Minors and some other patients have different reimbursement rules.
Without French public healthcare coverage, you may have to pay the consultation fee yourself and request reimbursement through your own insurer.
You can check the official French medical tariffs on the Assurance Maladie website.
Sometimes, a simple consultation isn't enough.
A student might suffer a more serious illness, injure themselves during an activity or require emergency medical attention.
French hospitals provide emergency care, but treatment can involve several expenses, including:
The €23 emergency department charge mentioned earlier is not a universal price for all emergency treatment. In particular, an uninsured visitor may be responsible for additional medical costs.
Hospitalisation can become considerably more expensive than an ordinary doctor's appointment.
This is one reason why suitable medical insurance matters when travelling internationally.
If you or another student experiences a serious medical emergency, these are the numbers to know:
Both are free to call.
For a minor illness, a doctor or pharmacist is generally a more appropriate first point of contact than the hospital emergency department.
Not all health insurance policies offer the same benefits.
Some focus primarily on emergencies and accidents, while others also cover routine medical consultations, examinations and prescribed medication.
Before travelling, it's worth understanding which situations your insurance actually covers.
You don't need to have a serious accident to require medical attention abroad.
A student might develop flu, an ear infection, stomach problems or another common illness.
Depending on the policy, medical insurance may cover eligible:
The important distinction is whether your insurance covers everyday medical needs or only emergencies.
Language stays often involve much more than sitting in a classroom.
Swimming, sightseeing, sports and excursions are all part of the experience for many international students.
And while activities are organised with appropriate precautions, accidents can still happen.
A fall, sprained ankle or other injury might require a medical consultation, X-ray or hospital treatment.
Before booking, check whether your insurance includes recreational sports and organised activities, and whether any exclusions apply.
Hospitalisation coverage helps protect against eligible expenses when inpatient medical treatment is necessary.
Medical repatriation is different.
It refers to medically organised transport, potentially back to your home country, when your medical condition requires it and the insurance conditions are met.
It does not simply mean being able to take an earlier flight home whenever you feel unwell.
Repatriation is normally subject to medical assessment and the insurer's authorisation.
No insurance policy should be treated as a guarantee that every possible expense will be reimbursed.
Policies may have exclusions, specific benefit limits or conditions relating to:
Always check the policy documentation, even when an insurer offers reimbursement from the first euro.
At Centre International d'Antibes, we welcome students from around the world for French courses and language stays on the Côte d'Azur.
We also know that preparing for a trip abroad involves more than choosing your course and packing your suitcase.
That's why we've introduced optional health insurance through APRIL International, available directly during our online booking process.
APRIL specialises in international insurance, including healthcare solutions for students studying abroad.
The APRIL insurance option offered through Centre International d'Antibes costs €59 per week.
It is available to students aged 12–30, regardless of nationality.
Coverage applies only during the dates of the insured student's booked stay.
The insurance is optional, so students who already have suitable medical protection can review their existing policy before deciding whether to add it.
According to the information confirmed for our programmes, the insurance covers eligible:
Non-generic medication is excluded under the APRIL MyStudies Cover documentation.
The insurance provides coverage from the first euro for eligible medical expenses, under the applicable policy conditions.
This means eligible expenses do not have to be reimbursed first by another health insurance provider. However, coverage from the first euro does not mean unlimited reimbursement or the absence of exclusions.
The precise benefits, limits and authorisation requirements depend on the applicable insurance contract.
It's simple.
When booking your French language stay through our website, eligible students and parents can select the optional APRIL insurance directly during the reservation process.
Once the insurance has been purchased, the student or parent receives an insurance certificate by email within 72 hours.
The email also provides access to APRIL's online platform, where insured students can access their documents and manage relevant procedures.
Keep your insurance certificate and assistance details somewhere accessible during your stay.
Being ill away from home is never particularly enjoyable, especially when you're still learning the language.
Fortunately, knowing what to do makes the situation easier to manage.
If you're attending one of our junior programmes, you should inform the responsible school staff as soon as you become ill or injured.
Our team can help you follow the programme's medical assistance procedures.
For parents, it's important that your child knows whom to contact if they're not feeling well.
Adult students can also contact the school for practical guidance, while remaining responsible for their medical decisions and insurance arrangements.
In a serious emergency, contact the emergency services immediately.
APRIL provides a 24/7 emergency assistance service for insured students who need help with their medical situation or insurance coverage.
You can find the correct emergency assistance number on your APRIL insurance card, available in the Easy Claim app.
The insurance card can also be downloaded to your phone's digital wallet, so you can access your assistance details when needed.
For hospitalisation, contact APRIL as soon as possible, as prior approval is required for all hospital expenses.
In an emergency, seek immediate medical assistance first and contact APRIL as soon as possible to arrange the insurance procedures.
If you receive treatment, keep all relevant paperwork.
This may include medical invoices, prescriptions, reports, proof of payment and other documents requested by the insurer.
Even a relatively simple consultation can generate paperwork that you'll need later.
APRIL provides an online platform and the Easy Claim application, allowing insured students to manage reimbursement requests.
You can submit medical bills and supporting documents directly through the platform or app, then track the progress of your claim.
This makes it possible to manage eligible healthcare expenses without having to send everything by post.
This is one of the most important questions for international students and parents.
And the answer is: it depends on the type of medical treatment and the arrangements made with your insurer.
You may need to pay the consultation fee yourself.
Afterwards, you can submit the relevant medical documents to your insurance provider for reimbursement, subject to your coverage.
For example, if you visit a doctor for an ear infection, you might pay for the consultation and medication before submitting a claim for eligible expenses.
Hospitalisation can work differently.
APRIL's MyStudies Cover documentation describes arrangements where eligible hospital costs may be paid directly by the insurer, reducing the need for patients to advance substantial amounts.
However, all hospital expenses require prior approval under APRIL's benefits table, and direct payment must be confirmed with the insurer under the student's actual policy.
Do not assume that every hospital visit will automatically be paid directly by the insurer.
If you're admitted to hospital, or an admission is planned, contact APRIL as soon as possible using the assistance number provided on your insurance card.
Whether you're an adult travelling independently or a parent preparing your teenager's first language stay, a little preparation can make a big difference.
Before departure, make sure you:
Students who take regular medication should also check any relevant rules about bringing medication into France.
The idea isn't to expect something to go wrong.
It's simply to avoid searching for insurance documents while sitting in a waiting room with a fever.
Much less glamorous than discovering the French Riviera.
A language stay abroad is about much more than French grammar.
It's about meeting people from different countries, exploring somewhere new, practising French in everyday situations and gaining confidence along the way.
At Centre International d'Antibes, our French courses for adults offer opportunities to learn French while enjoying life on the Côte d'Azur.
And beyond the classroom, student life at Centre International d'Antibes brings together international friendships, cultural activities and the everyday pleasures of living in the South of France.
Whether you're travelling independently or preparing your child's language stay, understanding your healthcare coverage is part of making the most of the experience.
For eligible students aged 12–30, our optional APRIL insurance is available for €59 per week and can be added directly during online booking.
Take care of the practical details before you leave. Then come to Antibes ready for the French, the friendships and, naturally, the occasional croissant.
It depends on your nationality, residence status and type of studies. Eligible university students may be able to register for French Social Security, while some European students can use the EHIC. Certain visa applicants must provide proof of medical insurance. Students attending short French language courses should check their existing coverage and applicable entry requirements before travelling.
Yes. The optional APRIL insurance offered by Centre International d'Antibes includes eligible illnesses, accidents, medical consultations, prescribed generic medication, hospitalisation and medical repatriation. Non-generic medicines are excluded. Accidents during organised sporting activities and excursions are also included, subject to the insurance conditions. Coverage limits and exclusions depend on the applicable contract.
Possibly. For an ordinary medical consultation, you may need to pay upfront and request reimbursement afterwards. For eligible hospitalisation, APRIL may arrange direct payment to the hospital, but prior approval is required for all hospital expenses under the benefits table. Always keep your invoices and consult the assistance details on your APRIL insurance card if you're unsure about the correct procedure.
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