Obtaining healthcare in France

Obtaining HEALTH CARE when looking for PROPERTIES FOR SALE in FRANCE

The health care system, commonly known as the l'assurance maladie, or the Sécu, is often quite rightly praised for its efficiency of treatment and ease of accessibility.

10% of gross national income is spent on the healthcare system, one of the highest in Europe. A clear indication that the French take their healthcare system seriously. A life expectancy only matched by that of Japan. Another reason why to buy French Property!

However don't be fooled, the system is still under pressure, due to financial issues they are short staffed in a quite a few regions, and a few of the costs are having to be paid by the patient.

The health system may be one of the best in the world, but unless you are covered by an E106 or E121, it is not necessarily the cheapest!

Health insurance Park

If you seek medical treatment you will need to pay at the end of each consultation and later receive reimbursement from the social security system.  Historically, in order to obtain reimbursement in the French health system it was necessary to submit a receipt for the treatment
Everyone aged 16+ years of age is required to have one. Children under 16 years are included on the card of their parent or guardian.
You can also normally use it in your local chemist.

French Doctors.

All those 16+ years of age are required to register with a doctor as their médecin traitant if they are to retain full eligibility to reimbursement of their health costs.
You can still choose not to register with a doctor (equivalent of a general practitioner), but your medical fees will be higher, and you will receive a lower rate of reimbursement from the social security system.
The process of registering with a doctor takes place when you join the health system through your local Caisse Primaire d'Assurance Maladie (CPAM), you will be given a form to be completed and handed in to your doctor when you visit.
Any queries for treatment, check-ups etc go through him.

You are free to take people below the age of 16 to any doctor you like free of charge.

Take Note

The French social security system only reimburses a percentage of charges, with most of the balance being reimbursed by your voluntary 'top-up' insurance policy.
However, there are a certain number of surcharges, for which there may be no reimbursement at all.

• Consultant Fees
• Patient Charges
• Branded Medicines
• Medical Aids

Long Term Illness

If you suffer from an illness like this (cancer etc, it is also possible for the health services authority to accept an illness not on the list, if they consider that it is prolonged and serious) then all the costs are reimbursable by the system, keeping in mind that the fees and charges are made at the official rate.
You will be responsible for excess consultant charges (depassements), and you will continue to remain responsible for the patient surcharges.

For a consultation you just need to ask your general practitioner, who will refer you on for a more specialist assessment if your circumstances are more than routine.

Your doctor may recommend a suitable consultant, but you are not obliged to accept their recommendation.

Prescriptions come from your doctor, you will need to pay at the chemist. And depending on the type of medicine, the system will reimburse a percentage of your money.

Emergency Services

Call ‘SAM' on 15 from a landline and 112 from a mobile.
There are nearly 100 SAMU call centres in France each on run by the local major hospital. Many of those manning the centres will themselves be doctors, or at the least, trained medical staff.

Depending on the circumstances, they are able to organise transport to hospital, a home visit by a doctor or simply medical advice over the telephone.

Hospitals

There are both private and public hospitals in France. 

Most private hospitals (cliniques privées) are accessible on broadly the same terms as a public hospital, with very few operating completely outside of the public sector. You can search for French Properties near to hospitals and Houses For Sale in France near doctors on our class leading Maps on each Property Record. You can also see how close the House in France that you are considering is to other amenities such as Restaurants, Bars, Hotels and many more.

If you have no health insurance, and it is an emergency, you will still receive treatment, although you will be responsible for the costs. 

If it is not an emergency, you are likely to be asked to make pre-payment for the treatment.

If you're a visitor you must show your European Health Card.

If you are admitted as an in-patient to hospital then they you will need to produce your health insurance card (your carte vitale).

Maternity

Maternity care levels are very high in France.
If you become pregnant you're obliged to tell your local Caisse at least four calendar months prior to expected date of delivery of the baby.

Dental Treatment

Dental services in France operate on a very similar basis to that of the general medical services.
You are free to use any dentist you like, and you do not need to go to the same dentist for all of your treatment.
Most dentists work within the framework of the public health system, so your general dental treatment is reimbursed in very much the same manner as that of other medical specialists. 

That is to say, you will receive reimbursement from the social security system at 70% of official rates and your voluntary health insurance policy will pay for balance

According to the BBD all children are entitled a check-up every three years.
If any treatment is needed as a result of the check then most of this work is free of charge, although there are some exceptions, e.g. prostheses and orthodontics (brace).
You will receive a letter 1 month before the Childs birthday about the check-up; it must be within 6 months of their birthday.

At the moment a ceramic crown is around 100 Euros, but the dentist can charge whatever he likes.
And remember you only get 70% of the official rate!

Opticians

Opticians are not part of the French health service, and they do not ordinarily undertake eye tests. You could be sold spectacles but unless you have a prescription you wont get the money back from the social security system.

Breast Screening

If you are a female aged between 50 and 74 years of age you are entitled to receive breast screening free of charge every two years.

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