Joined Mutuelle - now what?

[Bobdude]

I know this is going to sound stupid but I can't help it, so go easy with me. My husband and I are covered by an E121, since October 2003. We both get 100% cover for long standing health problems, including prescriptions, but have recently taken out a Mutuelle to cover anything that is not covered. So far so good. At the Mutuelle office the lady took our Carte Vitales and registered them on the computer, we have just received our Mutuelle membership cards too, but how do we get reimbursement from the mutuelle? Nothing was explained to us at the time of joining. I can't believe it can possibly be automatic - not in France - or am I being too sceptical?? Do we have to ask for a 'feuille de soins' whenever we visit a consultant of hospital??

Confused.

[Alexis]

When you applied for your mutuelle you should have put who covers you and your Carte Vitale number,  CPAM or MSA, and they will be informed that you have a mutuelle.  Then, when they receive a soins bill, they will automatically send the bill to the mutuelle for the rest to be paid.  This covers both doctors with a machine and those who give a fiche.

If this does not happen, you can send the statement you receive stating the payment you have recived from the CPAM or MSA to you mutuelle and then they will cough up.

[Bobdude]

Thanks for that Alexis! That's easier than I thought - she did take my Carte Vitale and run it through their computer, and looked at my attestation from CPAM. It's just that she didn't explain anything, and we have quite a journey to go back to the office and ask them for help. So I will keep my latest CPAM statement 'cos it came only 5 days after the mutuelle started - in case I have to claim for what's already on it.

Still, I'm impressed! I was dreading filing in all the claim forms.

[Alexis]

Just another little tip, if you have to send papers off, photocopy them as it is a ****** to get replacements.