EHIC and EU patients
All European Union Citizens might be insured for medical emergencies. As part of the UE, Martinique is attached to the French Health Medical System which does accept visiting sick travellers carrying the European Health Insurance Card (EHIC)All European tourists coming to the Caribbean should obtain a European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) before leaving their living Country. However this Card does cover only 80 % of the full In- Hospital costIn addition , it is always advisable to take an additional Medical Insurance before departure to the Caribbean including repatriation following initial treatment at the University Hospital of Martinique (CHU de Martinique).
What Does Cover EHIC?:
The EHIC provides emergency health cover for treatment in Martinique by the French State Health Service:
- You must pay for out-patient treatment and then claim a refund on your return to your Country.
- For in-patient treatment, the doctor you have consulted or the hospital doctor will issue you with a certificate (attestation). The hospital should then send a Notice of admission - Acceptance of Responsibility (Avis d'admission - prise en charge) form to the local sickness insurance office along with your European Health Insurance Card or Temporary Replacement Certificate. If not, you should send it yourself.
- If you are admitted at the University Hospital of Martinique, the office will usually pay 75% or more of the cost direct to the hospital. Please note that in most of cases, you’ll have to pay the balance. You must also pay a fixed daily hospital charge (“forfait journalier”). The 25% balance and the “forfait journalier” might be non-refundable.
- Caution: secondary transfer (fly back with or without medical Assistance) to your Country after stabilization or emergency treatment in Martinique is usually not covered.
Do I need to Take an Additional Insurance?:
Many people deeply regret not taking out travel insurance thinking their credit card accident cover, home insurance, EHIC or private health cover is sufficient. This is often not the real life.
Therefore, it is always advisable to take an additional Medical Insurance before departure to the Caribbean and which might cover such repatriation.
Visitors travelling (or being air lifted from another Island or a Ship cruising around) to Martinique from other non-French islands specifically for medical treatment should be aware that such treatment will not necessarily be covered.
Make sure you have adequate travel health insurance and accessible funds to cover the cost of any medical treatment abroad as well as repatriation.
Contact us
For urgent request, it is advisable to contact the 24-hours Call Center Service:
International Tel Number:
+596 596 751575
International Fax Number:
+ 596 596 755980
And to follow instructions in the Contact Us box
Heavy medical support with extra fee can be offered with a short notice for retrieval of critically sick patients.