Social security and health insurance in Martinique

Martinique is an overseas department and region governed by Article 73 of the Constitution. Following the referendums of January 2010, the laws of 27 July 2011 created a single territorial authority, the Collectivité territoriale de Martinique (CTM), which exercises the powers of both department and region; its first elections date from December 2015 (IEDOM). The General Code of Territorial Authorities (Article L. 7251-1) allows it to promote the economic, social and health development of the island, but does not give it a social protection scheme of its own: general social security legislation applies in Martinique (Article L. 751-1 of the Social Security Code).

On the ground, the CGSS of Martinique (Lamentin) brings together health insurance, pension insurance, the Urssaf (the social security contributions collection body) for employers and the self-employed, and the occupational risks branch; the family allowance fund manages family benefits and housing aid. CLEISS (the French centre for European and international social security liaison) recalls that, in the overseas departments, benefits are paid by the CGSS and not by the CPAM. The Regional Health Agency (ARS) of Martinique steers the care offering, prevention and health monitoring under the 2023-2028 regional health project.

Provision is dominated by the public sector: the Martinique University Hospital (CHU), a public teaching and research facility based in Fort-de-France, hospital centres and a mental health facility, according to IEDOM. The territory is ageing rapidly, with a high prevalence of chronic diseases (hypertension markedly more frequent than in mainland France) and a shortfall in accommodation for older people; hospital reconstructions funded by the Ségur plan are under way, notably the Saint-Esprit hospital complex.

Change of status. In October 2025, the Congress of elected officials and the Assembly of Martinique came out in favour of an autonomous rule-making power. A framework agreement between the State and the authority, published in the Journal officiel, opens discussions on an institutional reform proposal (health is among the areas mentioned) and provides that its implementation will be subject to a consultation of voters. This text sets out a method and does not by itself change the social protection scheme described here.

• Entry and stay: Martinique is part of the Republic; a French citizen arriving from mainland France has no visa or residence permit to apply for. The formalities are those of a move within France (change of address, fund, tax declarations). Nationals of other countries should enquire with the prefecture (section "Foreign nationals in Martinique").
• Conditions for opening rights: according to the Assurance Maladie, anyone who works or lives in France on a stable and lawful basis is entitled to have their healthcare costs covered. An employee has no minimum period of activity to show; a self-employed person is covered from the start of their activity; a person with no occupation is covered on the basis of their residence. During an inspection, the Assurance Maladie asks for proof of 6 months of residence in France over the last 12 months; CLEISS for its part mentions residence of at least 3 months. See also the definition of universal health coverage (PUMa).
• Competent fund: the CGSS of Martinique. In certain cases (arrival in France, residence alone, change of situation), the opening of rights is not automatic: CLEISS indicates that Cerfa form S1106 must then be filled in and sent to the body of the place of residence.
• Civil servant transferred to Martinique: they keep the scheme of their branch of the civil service; the handling of their health insurance file and the pay supplement should be confirmed with their administration (the concept of secondment abroad has no meaning for a post in Martinique).
• Student: according to the public service, the student generally keeps their compulsory scheme, often their parents', becomes an independent insured person at 18 and can ask to be one from age 16. Student insurance for abroad does not apply to this French territory.
• Supplementary health cover: the co-payment (ticket modérateur), the daily hospital charge and extra-billing fall to supplementary cover. The Complémentaire Santé Solidaire (C2S, supplementary solidarity health cover) is free up to a ceiling of annual income, revised each year, for a single person in the overseas departments (Guadeloupe, French Guiana, Martinique, Réunion), and with a financial contribution up to a second ceiling (service-public.gouv.fr).
• Departure outside France: only a departure from Martinique to a foreign country comes under the logic of expatriation. The public service indicates that an expatriate can join the Caisse des Français de l'Étranger (CFE) to keep the French scheme; its offers are the main offer, the youth offer and the retiree offer.

The sources consulted mention no fine specific to the territory for lacking cover. The practical point is to declare your situation to the CGSS on arrival so that rights are open before the first care.

There is neither a social security agreement nor a coordination regulation between mainland France and Martinique, since the island is part of the Republic. The framework is institutional:

• Status: overseas department and region (Article 73 of the Constitution), run by the Collectivité territoriale de Martinique; national law applies with authorised adaptations (IEDOM). Martinique is also an outermost region of the European Union.
• Social security: general legislation applies in Martinique (Article L. 751-1); the CGSS and the family allowance fund of Martinique are established by Article L. 752-1.
• Moving from one French territory to another: no coordination form; the Assurance Maladie treats health-related travel from the overseas departments, including Martinique, separately. It specifies that French Polynesia, New Caledonia, Saint-Pierre-et-Miquelon and Wallis and Futuna are not covered, which sets them apart from Martinique.
• Institutional reform under discussion: the framework agreement published in the Journal officiel provides for a negotiating group and a consultation of voters before any implementation; it has no bearing on health insurance by itself.
• For a stay outside France (neighbouring Caribbean, North America): the rules on "care abroad" and an assistance and repatriation policy should be prepared in advance.

1. Before leaving mainland France: report your change of address and situation to your Assurance Maladie fund, the family allowance fund, France Travail and your pension fund.
2. Employee: carrying out the activity opens rights; confirm with the employer and the CGSS of Martinique that the file is attached. Civil servant: contact the managing department for the transfer of the file and the pay supplement.
3. With no professional activity or if opening is not automatic: submit Cerfa form S1106 with supporting documents to the CGSS of Martinique (Rue Case Nègres, Place d'Armes, 97 210 Lamentin Cedex 2, address given by the CGSS for sending documents).
4. Keep proof of residence: the Assurance Maladie may ask for proof of 6 months of residence over the last 12 months, with 30 days to reply.
5. Create or update your ameli account and have your Vitale card checked; choose a GP of record (médecin traitant) locally.
6. Assess your supplementary health cover needs, or your rights to the C2S using the Assurance Maladie simulator, according to the overseas departments' ceilings.
7. For care that cannot be provided on the island: ask your doctor for prior approval for transport, then contact your fund's referent (or the PASS, the hospital healthcare access service, during a hospital stay) and consult the health-related travel passport; an assistance policy can supplement cover for costs not covered.
8. For a return to mainland France: inform the CGSS and request the opening of rights with the fund of your new place of residence (S1106 if it is not automatic); see also the guide return to France.