The summer holidays will have the effect of a breath of fresh air for French homes. With the gradual reopening of borders, many of them will take the plunge to go abroad after months of successive confinements. Before leaving, they must carry out a free PCR test. On their return, the "sanitary pass" means that the "complete" vaccinated, that is to say in general with two doses, can automatically return to French soil. But not all are yet, the threshold of 15 million individuals who have received their two injections has just passed. Many travelers will therefore have to carry out a negative PCR test of less than 72 hours, at their vacation spot, before returning home.
However, contrary to the choice of the French government, the PCR test is chargeable in most countries, within or outside the European Union. While the European Commission has asked the various members to harmonize prices, there are disparities. At the moment, only Denmark, Norway, Montenegro and the region of Bavaria in Germany also offer PCR tests to tourists.
Otherwise, in Europe, prices vary between 40 and 190 euros, depending on the region and the establishment. It is 100 euros, for example, in Portugal or Italy if you want an immediate result in the laboratory, 60 euros in Greece, 113 euros in Croatia or between 50 euros at the airport and 150 euros in private laboratories. , in Austria. Outside of the Old Continent, prices can soar! If in Morocco, the test is 50 euros and 70 euros in Turkey, for example, those who wish to go to the United States will have to spend more than 300 euros for a PCR, and even more than 400 euros for tourists who will go. in Japan.
For a family of travelers, this can ultimately represent a real additional budget in the envelope dedicated to holidays.
Some may even back down on these costs.
The French may therefore be led to wonder if the State will cover all or part of the costs for a tourist trip.
Mr. Minister of Health, will PCR tests carried out abroad be reimbursed by Health Insurance, for which you are responsible with the Ministry of the Economy?
Our readers are eager to read your response.
Olivier Véran's response: "PCR tests carried out by French people wishing to return to France will not be covered"
Olivier Véran, the Minister of Health.
Jean-Baptiste Quentin
If you wish to travel outside of France, the PCR test that you will have to perform abroad will be at your sole expense, without reimbursement from Health Insurance. "What I can answer you at this stage following your question yesterday is that the health insurance will not cover the antigenic PCR tests carried out by the French wishing to return to France," says the Minister of Health. Solidarity and Health, Olivier Véran. If we have made the choice to take 100% from day one, it is to guarantee the protection of French people, to slow down the epidemic and to ensure that there is no financial barrier in access to care. "
The minister specifies that France is "one of the only countries in the world to have made this choice which honors us". Only the vaccinated French will be able to return to French soil without the need to carry out a PCR test, as required by the gradual introduction of the "health pass". The government refuses, in short, to reimburse tests that result from a personal initiative, such as going on a trip abroad.
To avoid inflicting excessive costs on yourself for your professional trips to Europe, consider taking the European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) before taking off. If you present it when taking a test, it will then be covered by French health insurance. Only if they are "of an administrative nature (compulsory to enter the territory of certain States), and of a medical nature (presence of symptoms)". Likewise, only “medical and urgent” tests will be covered by health insurance, upon justification, if it is carried out outside the European Union.
Tourists on vacation, on the other hand, should not be able to benefit from it. “Regarding procedures of a more administrative nature such as the possibility of taking a plane, it is not planned at this stage that this will be taken care of,” says Olivier Véran. Those who travel to Europe will pay a test between 40 and 190 euros, depending on the country, to return to France. For the bravest, who wish to set foot on American (300 euros) or Japanese (400 euros) soil, the bill will be steep.
