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Conditions, procedures, Social Security and supplementary insurance cover: the practical step-by-step guide
The essentials
- Social Security cover: 65-70% of thermal medical costs
- Supplementary insurance: Covers the patient co-payment (ticket modérateur) (remaining cost often 0 €)
- Duration: Approved cure of 18 days of treatment = ~21 nights
- Requirement: Prescription from your family doctor + CPAM approval
- Accommodation: Modest Social Security allowance — the choice of accommodation makes the difference to the budget
It is one of the questions most often asked by people considering their first thermal cure: is it reimbursed? How much does it really cost? What are the steps?
This guide explains everything, from the medical prescription to the transfer from your health insurance fund. And you will see that with good accommodation and suitable supplementary health insurance, a 3-week cure in Saint-Honoré-les-Bains can cost much less than you might think.
Reimbursement of a thermal cure by Social Security and your supplementary insurer considerably reduces the cost of an 18-day stay.
Who is entitled to a reimbursed thermal cure?
Anyone covered by the Assurance Maladie (French national health insurance) can benefit from a thermal cure paid for by the scheme, provided they meet two simple criteria :
- Have a medical prescription from your GP (or specialist) stating the therapeutic specialty and the recommended spa resort
- Complete a cure of 18 consecutive days of treatment — this is the standard length of an approved cure
Good to know: there is no age requirement. Children, adults, working people and retirees can all take a reimbursed cure. The thermal baths of Saint-Honoré-les-Bains even welcome children from a very young age for respiratory treatments.
What exactly does Social Security reimburse?
Coverage by the Assurance Maladie includes two types of costs:
Medical costs (reimbursed at 65-70%)
The thermal package (cost of the treatments provided by the establishment) is reimbursed at 65 %. The fee of the thermal doctor is reimbursed at 70 %.
In practice, for a cure in Saint-Honoré-les-Bains, the amount left to pay after Social Security reimbursement is generally between €100 and €200 for medical costs. Almost all of this amount is covered by your supplementary insurer if you have one.
Transport and accommodation costs (subject to conditions)
If your income is below the ceiling set by the Assurance Maladie (approximately 41 136 € in annual income for a single person — check the current amount with your CPAM), you may receive:
- A transport allowance calculated on the basis of a 2nd-class train journey
- An accommodation allowance of around €150 for the whole duration of the cure
This accommodation allowance does not cover the real cost of your lodging, but it is a welcome extra. That is why choosing an affordable accommodation such as Camping des Bains makes all the difference to your final budget.
What role does supplementary health insurance play in the reimbursement?
Supplementary health insurance (mutuelle) covers the co-payment (ticket modérateur), that is, the share of medical costs not reimbursed by Social Security. In practice, here is what that looks like:
- The French Social Security reimburses 65-70% of thermal treatment costs
- Your supplementary insurance covers the remaining 30-35% (the co-payment)
- Result: your thermal treatments often cost you nothing in medical expenses
Some supplementary insurers go further and offer an “alternative medicine” allowance or a “thermal cure” allowance that contributes to accommodation and transport costs. This allowance can range from €100 to €400 depending on the policy.
Tip: Check your supplementary insurance policy or contact your adviser before booking your cure. Some supplementary insurers require a prior quote or a prior approval request. Do this at least 2 months before the planned date.
The most generous supplementary insurers for thermal cures
Without recommending one insurer over another, here are the items to check in your policy:
- Thermal cure co-payment — covered at 100%? At 200%?
- Thermal accommodation allowance — annual amount allocated
- Transport allowance — top-up to the Social Security reimbursement
- Alternative medicine allowance — sometimes usable for additional massages
The 5 steps to get your reimbursement
Here are the steps to follow, from the first consultation to the actual reimbursement:
The medical prescription
See your GP (or a specialist). They fill in the Cerfa form no. 11139*02 — “Questionnaire de prise en charge d’une cure thermale” (thermal cure coverage questionnaire). They specify the therapeutic specialty (rheumatology, respiratory conditions, or both) and the recommended spa resort: Saint-Honoré-les-Bains.
Sending it to the CPAM and approval
Send the form to your Caisse Primaire d’Assurance Maladie (CPAM). You will receive, within 2 to 4 weeks a coverage approval made up of 3 sections: section 1 for the thermal baths, section 2 for the thermal doctor, section 3 for your supplementary insurer. Keep these documents safe.
Booking your cure and accommodation
Contact the thermal baths of Saint-Honoré-les-Bains to book your treatment dates. At the same time, book your accommodation. The Camping des Bains, located 250 m from the thermal baths, offers mobile homes, cottages and apartments with reduced rates for stays of 21 nights or more.
During the cure — 18 days of treatment
On the first day, you meet the thermal doctor who adapts your treatment programme. Follow the 18 days of treatment without interruption (excluding Sundays). At the end of the cure, the establishment gives you an attendance certificate. Keep it.
Reimbursement
The thermal baths send the billing directly to your health fund. With direct payment (tiers payant), you only pay the co-payment up front. Otherwise, the reimbursement is paid into your account within 2 to 4 weeks after the end of the cure. Send section 3 to your supplementary insurer to receive the top-up.
How much does a cure cost in total, accommodation included?
Here is the realistic budget for a 3-week cure in Saint-Honoré-les-Bains in 2026, with accommodation at Camping des Bains:
| Thermal costs (18 days of treatment) | 500 — 700 € |
| ↳ Reimbursed by Social Security (65-70%) | – €350 to – €490 |
| ↳ Reimbursed by supplementary insurance (co-payment) | – €150 to – €210 |
| → Amount left to pay for treatments | often 0 € |
| Accommodation 21 nights — Campsite pitch | from 250 € |
| Accommodation 21 nights — Air-conditioned mobile home | 800 — 1 200 € |
| Accommodation 21 nights — Cottage / Apartment | 750 — 1 100 € |
| Meals (~21 days, if you cook) | 200 — 400 € |
| Transport (varies with distance) | 50 — 200 € |
| Estimated total budget (with mobile home) | 1 050 — 1 800 € |
With a campsite pitch and cooking on site, the total budget can drop to 500 — 850 € for 3 weeks. Camping des Bains applies special reduced rates for stays of 21 nights or more.
Why the campsite is the cheapest option
In a furnished residence in Saint-Honoré-les-Bains, expect to pay between 700 € and 1 500 € for 21 nights — no swimming pool, no restaurant, no entertainment. At Camping des Bains, an air-conditioned mobile home with a fully equipped kitchen costs between 800 € and 1 200 € — with the swimming pool, restaurant, massages and entertainment included. That is more services for the same budget, or even cheaper.
FAQ — Thermal cure reimbursement
Will my thermal cure be reimbursed at 100%?
How many cures per year are reimbursed?
Can you freely choose your spa resort?
Do you have to pay up front?
Are mini-cures of 3-6 days reimbursed?
Which accommodation should you choose to reduce the total cost?
Where can you find the Cerfa form for the application?
Your cure reimbursed, your budget under control
A thermal cure in Saint-Honoré-les-Bains is above all an investment in your health — largely covered by Social Security and your supplementary insurer. By choosing suitable accommodation such as Camping des Bains, you enjoy 3 weeks of treatments, nature and rest without breaking the bank.
