How to be covered if I am self-employed ?

If you are starting your business, you must contact the “guichet unique”. You can check this Urssaf webpage:

https://www.urssaf.fr/portail/home/independant/je-cree-mon-entreprise/mes-demarches-en-debut-dactivite.html

Note : URSSAF, or the Union de recouvrement des cotisations de sécurité sociale et d’allocations familiales (Organisations for the Collection of Social Security and Family Benefit Contributions) is the main body involved in the collection and distribution of social security contributions from workers, employers, and self-employed workers/entrepreneurs in France.
 
If you rent out chambres d’hôtes (bed and breakfast), you offer tables d’hôtes (evening meals), on a professional level. In other words, the revenues from these activities make up your principal income.
You should make contact with your local Chambre de Commerce.

If you are self-employed but do not rent out chambres d’hôtes, your matriculation to the French healthcare system should have been automatic.

First, you have to be registered with the CCI (Chamber of Commerce) to be directed to the "Centre de formalités des entreprises" (CFE) or another organization, which should have sent your information to register you to the French health system.

If your matriculation was not automatic, you should send the following documents to your Caisse Primaire d’Assurance Maladie (CPAM):

- A proof of your self-employed status;
- The printed S1106 form "Application for membership in the French healthcare system", available on ameli.fr;
- The complete birth certificates for you and your family (parentage, i.e. the name of the parents, must be mentioned);
- If applicable, your marriage certificate;
- For non-European citizens, the official translation of your birth and marriage certificates into French, made by an official translator registered with a French court of justice, or by your consulate or embassy;
- A copy of your passport or identity card;
- Proof of residency (utility bills, rental contract, etc.);
- Your French bank account details (copy of your official RIB - relevé d'identité bancaire/IBAN);
- For non-European citizens, a copy of your visa or resident’s permit ;
If you have children, a copy of their birth certificate and passport or ID with the form S3705 "Application to add minor children to one or both parents insurance accounts" (available on ameli.fr);
- If applicable, a certificate that proves that you are registered with the Maison des Artistes.

Please send your application to your CPAM. You can find your CPAM's address on our website ameli.fr, section "Adresses et contacts".

Your affiliation is finalised

The processing times to get a social security number can fluctuate between one CPAM to another.

Your CPAM will send you your social security number and an “attestation de droits” (certificate of rights), meaning you are covered by the French healthcare system and can be reimbursed for your medical expenses.

To claim your refund, you have to complete, sign and send your “feuille de soins” (brown paper), and the prescriptions if you have them, to your CPAM.

Please note that you cannot order a carte Vitale or open an ameli account directly after receiving your definitive social security number. This is due to the fact it may take some time for your social security number to be certified.

Once your social security number is certified, your CPAM will send you the carte Vitale form. You can either order the card online by creating an ameli account or you can send the paper copy of the form by post, along with a recent identity photo and a copy of an identity document.

For better medical care and optimal reimbursements, register a “médecin traitant” (general practitioner) on your file.

You can find useful links according to your situation, by consulting this topic : « How to be covered : some useful links ».

Have a nice day.