{{Short description|French health insurance card}} thumb|Carte Vitale 2
The '''Carte Vitale''' ({{IPA|fr|kaʁt vital}}; {{literal translation}} 'Vital Card') is the health insurance card of the national health care system in France. It was introduced in 1998 to allow a direct settlement with the medical arm of the social insurance system. The declaration of a primary health insurance company (''Caisse primaire d'assurance maladie'') substitutes the card usage.<ref>[http://www.frenchpropertylinks.com/essential/health-care-france.html Health care in France]. French Property Links. Accessed May 23, 2012.</ref>
Since 2008, a second generation of smart cards is being introduced—the "Carte Vitale 2" carries a picture for identification and the smart card has additional functions of an electronic health insurance card to carry electronic documents of the treatment process.<ref>[http://www.french-property.com/guides/france/public-services/health/health-card/ Carte Vitale]. Accessed May 23, 2012.</ref> The first generation had been a family card carrying the names of all family members, thereby simply declaring they are covered by the French social security health care, while non-residents would need to use the European Health Insurance Card to prove their health insurance status.<ref>[http://www.gemalto.com/public_sector/healthcare/france.html Government - Healthcare in France] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120128184840/http://www.gemalto.com/public_sector/healthcare/france.html |date=January 28, 2012 }} Gemalto. Accessed May 23, 2012.</ref>
==See also== <!-- PLEASE RESPECT ALPHABETICAL ORDER --> * Electronic health record * European health insurance card * Italian health insurance card
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Category:Health insurance cards Category:Health insurance in France
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