Medical transport prescription: how to get your approved medical taxi in Nantes covered

What is a medical transport prescription?

The « bon de transport » is the everyday name for the medical transport prescription. It is an official document, completed and signed by a doctor, stating that your state of health justifies transport to your treatment, and in which form: approved medical taxi, light medical vehicle (VSL) or ambulance.

Without this prescription the journey is still possible, but it is charged as an ordinary taxi fare, at the rates set by the préfecture. With it, and if the conditions are met, Assurance Maladie (French public health insurance) contributes to the cost of the transport.

The prescription is issued before the transport, except in an emergency, when it can be regularised afterwards by the doctor or by the healthcare facility.

Who is eligible, and how much Assurance Maladie reimburses

Coverage depends on your medical situation, not on the transport provider. It applies in particular to care linked to a long-term illness, hospital stays, repeated treatments such as dialysis or chemotherapy, workplace accidents and occupational illnesses.

• 55% of the cost reimbursed as a general rule, with the remainder often covered by your complementary health insurance (mutuelle).
• 100% in certain cases, for example transport linked to a long-term illness with incapacity or impairment, maternity from the 6th month, a workplace accident, or for people covered by the Complémentaire santé solidaire.
• A medical deduction (franchise médicale) of 4 euros per journey remains payable by you, up to a limit of 8 euros per day. It does not apply to emergency transport.

When is prior approval required?

In two situations the prescription alone is not enough: your health insurance fund must give its approval before the journey.

• Journeys of more than 150 km one way, for example Nantes to Paris, Bordeaux or Rennes for an examination or a procedure that is not available locally.
• Series of journeys, meaning at least four trips of more than 50 km one way over a two-month period, for the same course of treatment. Transport linked to a long-term illness is exempt from this formality. For repeated treatments such as dialysis, we set out how it is arranged in our article on dialysis transport in Nantes.

The request is made by your doctor. If your fund does not reply within fifteen days, approval is deemed to have been granted. We arrange the journey once this step is settled, and we explain what to do if you have not seen to it yet: see our medical transport and approved medical taxi page.

Approved medical taxi, VSL or ambulance: which one for whom?

The three options match different states of health, and it is the doctor who decides, on the prescription.

• The approved medical taxi carries a patient in a seated position, able to move about alone or with light assistance. That is what we do.
• The VSL (light medical vehicle) also carries patients seated, with a crew trained in medical transport, often for more fragile patients.
• The ambulance is reserved for patients who must travel lying down or who need medical supervision during the journey.

Ma Centrale 44 provides seated patient transport only. In a life-threatening emergency, call 15 (SAMU) or 112.

Do you have to pay for the journey upfront?

No, when the conditions for coverage are met. We apply no upfront payment: we bill your Assurance Maladie fund directly for its share, and your complementary health insurer for its own share wherever direct billing (tiers payant) is possible. Where applicable, you pay only the medical deduction and any share that remains due from you.

For that we need your prescription, your up-to-date Carte Vitale (French health insurance card) and your complementary health insurance certificate.

Booking an approved medical taxi in Nantes, step by step

1. Ask your doctor for the prescription, when you arrange the appointment or the hospital admission date.
2. Call us on +33 6 37 36 48 20 or fill in the booking form: date, time, pick-up address, destination facility and type of care.
3. A driver confirms the journey with you by phone. No booking is final until that confirmation has taken place.

We serve every facility in the metropolitan area: CHU de Nantes, private clinics, dialysis centres, the ICO in Saint-Herblain, imaging centres and laboratories. The full list, town by town, is on our healthcare facilities served page.

On the day of the journey: what to bring with you

• your medical transport prescription, unless you have already sent it to us;
• your Carte Vitale, or your proof of entitlement;
• your complementary health insurance card;
• the documents requested by the facility, for example your appointment letter or your test results.

Medical secretaries, hospital departments and laboratories that arrange regular journeys for their patients have a dedicated contact: see our healthcare professionals page.