Cerfa 12485: Declare Your Médecin Traitant (GP) in France

What is Cerfa 12485 - choosing your médecin traitant?

In France your médecin traitant is the doctor who knows you best and whom you see first about a health problem. That doctor also refers you to specialists when needed. Declaring one puts you in the coordinated care pathway (parcours de soins coordonnés). Service-public.gouv.fr says that if you see doctors outside this pathway, you are less well reimbursed. The choice is made with the doctor's agreement, and you can change doctor whenever you like without giving a reason.

There are two ways to declare. The doctor can do it online with your carte Vitale, or you both sign the paper form cerfa 12485*02 (S 3704a) and post it to your health insurance fund. The form identifies the insured person whose social security number covers you, and the patient (bénéficiaire) if that is someone else. It also identifies the doctor and the practice, and carries a joint declaration that both of you sign.

FileIt fills in the patient's part in plain English and prints it into the official PDF in capital letters, as the form asks, with each digit in its own box. It checks the key of the social security number and writes both names into the joint declaration. If you have the doctor's details it fills in the doctor's part too; otherwise the doctor stamps it. The filled PDF is saved in your vault. You take it to the consultation, sign it with the doctor, and post it yourself.

Who fills it: The patient, together with the chosen doctor at a consultation
Given to: Your health insurance fund (caisse d'assurance maladie), by post
Alternative: The doctor can declare online with your carte Vitale instead
Signatures: The patient and the doctor. A parent also signs for a patient aged 16 to 18
Edition: cerfa N° 12485*02 (S 3704a), 1 page plus a page of advice

Who needs to fill out Cerfa 12485 - choosing your médecin traitant?

Anyone aged 16 or over covered by the French Assurance Maladie who hasn't yet declared a regular doctor.
Newcomers to France who have just received their social security number and chosen a GP.
Spouses, children aged 16 or over and other dependants attached to someone else's social security number. They give that person's number and their own name.
Anyone changing their médecin traitant, for example after moving. The new declaration replaces the old one.
Patients whose doctor prefers the paper declaration, or can't declare online at the consultation.

When to use Cerfa 12485 - choosing your médecin traitant

At a consultation with the doctor you want to choose, who must agree to be your médecin traitant.
Soon after joining the French health system, so you are reimbursed at the coordinated-care rate.
Whenever you change doctor. Service-public.gouv.fr says you are free to change whenever you wish, without giving a reason.
Not for someone receiving the aide médicale de l'État (AME). Service-public.gouv.fr says the médecin traitant rules don't apply to them.

What you need before you start

The name and social security number (13 characters plus a 2-digit key) of the insured person. These are on the carte Vitale or attestation de droits.
If the patient is someone else attached to that number: the patient's name.
The patient's date of birth.
The insured person's address.
The doctor's agreement. The doctor adds their name, practice and identification number, usually with a stamp.
For a patient aged 16 to 18: a parent or holder of parental authority to sign as well.

What’s on Cerfa 12485 - choosing your médecin traitant

The 2026 edition has 2 pages. FileIt asks for it in 4 parts, and it is signed by Patient and Doctor:

L'assuré(e) - the insured personPatient
Le bénéficiaire - the patient choosing the doctorPatient
Identification de la structure d'exercice et du médecin traitant (the doctor)Doctor
Déclaration conjointe - joint declarationPatient

How to fill out Cerfa 12485 - choosing your médecin traitant, step by step

1 Identification de l'assuré(e) et du bénéficiaire

If you are the insured person, write your name and social security number in 'l'assuré(e)' and only your date of birth under 'le bénéficiaire'. If you are covered through someone else, such as a spouse, a parent for a child aged 16 or over, or another dependant, write their name and number under 'l'assuré(e)'. Then write your own name and date of birth under 'le bénéficiaire'. Add the insured person's address. Names and address go in capitals, and one digit per box.

2 Identification de la structure d'exercice et du médecin traitant

The doctor stamps this part or writes it in legibly. It needs the name and address of the practice, health centre or establishment and its number (AM, FINESS or SIRET). It also needs the doctor's name and professional identification number in the grid.

3 Déclaration conjointe

You write your name and the doctor's name in the joint declaration. You declare that you choose this doctor as your médecin traitant, and the doctor declares being your médecin traitant. Both of you undertake to respect article L. 162-5-3 of the Code de la sécurité sociale. Both sign, and a parent signs too for a patient aged 16 to 18. Finally, write the date the declaration is signed.

Common mistakes to avoid

Writing the patient's own number under 'l'assuré(e)' when they are actually covered through a spouse's or parent's number.
Getting the social security key wrong. FileIt checks it against the number.
Sending the form without the doctor's signature or stamp. The form is a joint declaration.
Forgetting the parent's signature for a patient aged 16 to 18.
Declaring a doctor who hasn't agreed. The choice must be made with the doctor's agreement.

After you fill it out

Take the printed form to the consultation. The doctor completes their part, and you both sign.

Check every part is filled in, then post it to your caisse d'assurance maladie (CPAM, or MSA for the agricultural scheme). The form says 'Merci d'envoyer la déclaration complétée et signée à votre caisse d'assurance maladie.' FileIt does not send it for you.

Keep the filled PDF in your FileIt vault with your carte Vitale details and attestation de droits.

Fill out Cerfa 12485 - choosing your médecin traitant online with FileIt

Pick the person. Choose someone from People and FileIt fills in their name, date of birth, address and other details it already knows.
Answer plain-language questions. One part of the form at a time, with the official help text beside each question — 20 fields in all. Your answers save as you go.
Check the live preview. Watch your answers land on the real Assurance Maladie (Caisse nationale de l'assurance maladie, CNAM) - via your local CPAM form, and let FileIt do any worksheet arithmetic.
Generate the official PDF. FileIt prints your answers into the agency’s own PDF and files it in that person’s folder in your vault. Sign it, or send it for e-signature.

FileIt fills the form — it never files or submits anything for you. Deliver the finished form to whoever asked for it, the way the form’s instructions say.

Start Cerfa 12485 - choosing your médecin traitant now — it’s free

Cerfa 12485 - choosing your médecin traitant: frequently asked questions

What is cerfa 12485?

It is the Déclaration de choix du médecin traitant (S 3704a). It is the paper form a patient and their chosen doctor sign to register that doctor as the patient's médecin traitant with the Assurance Maladie.

Do I have to use the paper form?

No. Service-public.gouv.fr says the doctor can also declare online using your carte Vitale. The paper form is for when you both sign and post it to your fund.

What happens if I don't declare a médecin traitant?

Service-public.gouv.fr says you are less well reimbursed when you consult outside the coordinated care pathway. Some specialists, such as gynaecologists, ophthalmologists, psychiatrists and dentists, can be seen directly.

Can I change my médecin traitant?

Yes. Service-public.gouv.fr says you can change whenever you wish, without giving a reason. The new declaration cancels the previous one.

What about children?

The form's notice was written for patients aged 16 and over, and a parent signs too for patients aged 16 to 18. Service-public.gouv.fr says one parent or guardian chooses the médecin traitant for a child under 16, so ask the doctor how they declare it.

Where do I send it?

To your caisse d'assurance maladie, usually the CPAM (or the MSA for the agricultural scheme). FileIt never submits forms.

Can I fill in cerfa 12485 online with FileIt?

Yes. FileIt fills in your part and, if you have them, the doctor's details. It prints everything in capitals into the official PDF, one digit per box, and saves it in your vault. You then sign it with your doctor.

Official sources

Blank form (PDF), published by Assurance Maladie (Caisse nationale de l'assurance maladie, CNAM) - via your local CPAM: https://www.formulaires.service-public.fr/gf/cerfa_12485.do
Official instructions and guidance: https://www.service-public.gouv.fr/particuliers/vosdroits/F163
Edition shown on this page: Cerfa N° 12485*02 (S 3704a) (checked 2026-09-28).

FileIt is not affiliated with or endorsed by Assurance Maladie (Caisse nationale de l'assurance maladie, CNAM) - via your local CPAM or any government. This page explains the form in general terms and is not legal, tax or immigration advice. Always read the official instructions, and check that you are using the edition the recipient accepts. Page last reviewed 2026-09-28.