Assurance Maladie (CPAM) letter explained in English
Health insurance. The public health insurance. It pays back part of your doctor, medicine and hospital costs.
Letters you may get
- Attestation de droits — proof of your health cover
- Demande de pièces — they need documents to open or keep your rights
- Indemnités journalières — sick pay while you can’t work
- Indu — they want money back
What to do
- Open an account on ameli.fr. You can follow refunds and download documents there.
- Ask for your Carte Vitale as soon as you have a social security number.
- Find the deadline. Look for “délai”, “avant le”, “au plus tard”.
- Write the reference number from the letter on everything you send back, and keep copies.
- If you disagree with a decision, object in writing before the deadline (“recours gracieux”, “recours administratif préalable obligatoire”, “recours amiable”, “réclamation”, “contestation”, “recours”). See the template.
Words you may see
- attestation
- Certificate or written statement, for example proof of health cover.
- indu
- Money paid to you by mistake that you have to pay back.
Questions
What is the Assurance Maladie (CPAM)?
Health insurance. The public health insurance. It pays back part of your doctor, medicine and hospital costs.
How long do I have to answer a letter from the Assurance Maladie (CPAM)?
It depends on the letter. Look for words like “délai”, “avant le”, “au plus tard” — they mark the deadline. In France, a deadline usually starts on the day you receive the letter — for a registered letter, often the day the post first tried to deliver it. The 3 days are only an estimate, so check the envelope or the delivery notice. To object, the letter usually names the way to do it (“recours gracieux”, “recours administratif préalable obligatoire”, “recours amiable”, “réclamation”, “contestation”, “recours”).
Can I read a Assurance Maladie (CPAM) letter in English?
Yes. Take a photo of the letter with Briefly. It explains the letter in plain English, finds the deadline and the amount, and gives you ready-made replies in French. Your letter never leaves your device.
Other offices in France
Finances publiques (DGFiP) · Trésor public / Service de gestion comptable · Caisse d’allocations familiales (CAF) · France Travail (ex Pôle emploi) · Préfecture / ANEF · OFII · Mutuelle / complémentaire santé · URSSAF