French Work Visas
Learn how expats can obtain work visas in France, including through working holiday programs, seasonal worker programs, and the Blue Card.
The Healthcare System in France
Learn how healthcare in France works, including how to access public and private care, navigate hospitals, and understand medical costs.
The French healthcare system often ranks as one of the best in Europe, but if you’re considering moving or traveling to France, you’ll need to understand how it works. This article dives into the topic of healthcare in France, looking at how expats and travelers can access care, what the public and private French health systems offer, and any associated costs.
Key Takeaways
- The healthcare system in France combines universal public healthcare with a strong private sector, giving residents access to high-quality medical care across the country.
- Most residents use France’s public health system, although many also purchase complementary private coverage to reduce out-of-pocket expenses.
- Private healthcare offers faster access and greater choice, allowing patients to choose shorter wait times or enhanced services if they are willing to pay or have a private plan.
- Expats can access public healthcare once they meet residency requirements and register with the French healthcare system. Visitors should rely on travel medical insurance.
- Understanding how France’s healthcare system works before you arrive can help you avoid unexpected costs.
Find the Best International Medical Coverage
- Compare multiple quotes from top insurers
- Get expert advice at no additional cost
- Find the right plan for your needs and budget
Overview of the Healthcare System in France
The healthcare system in France, known as Protection Maladie Universelle (PMU), provides universal healthcare through mandatory public insurance. It was overhauled in 2016 to be more comprehensive and affordable than the previous system, known as Couverture Maladie Universelle (CMU).
As a result, the public healthcare system covers an estimated 96% of all French residents. This includes expats, who must apply for France’s healthcare system if they have permanent residency and have lived in the country for at least three consecutive months.
In France, the majority of hospitals are state-owned and not-for-profit. French citizens see doctors regularly for checkups and healthcare maintenance. France’s public healthcare system even covers alternative therapies, such as homeopathy, acupuncture, and chiropractic.
However, some things are not covered. This is one reason why 96% of the population also has private health coverage, and many expats have international health insurance.
Costs of the French Healthcare System
It takes a lot of money to run the French healthcare system, but not all of it comes out of the individual’s pocket. The country funds its public health system through payroll taxes, income tax, taxes on things such as tobacco and alcohol, and state subsidies. While French people do have co-pays under the system, many of them have low annual caps of about €50.
The Agence Nationale d’Accréditation et d’Evaluation en Santé, or ANAES, is a government agency responsible for issuing recommendations and practice guidelines. This includes treatments and supervision of specific conditions, as well as the evaluation of rates and reimbursement practices.
Typically, around 79% of French healthcare costs, including those for general practitioners, hospitals, dentists, and pharmaceuticals, are covered by the government.
Supplemental health coverage covers much of the rest. This means only about 8-9% of healthcare costs are paid out of pocket. Senior citizens and those with chronic illnesses have 100% of their medical costs covered.
Most healthcare fees are set on a national level by the French government. Users of the French healthcare system typically pay between €25 and €30 to see a general practitioner and a specialist, respectively. These fees are set at the national level by the government. Patients who are not part of the system pay more.
A patient admitted to a public hospital pays €23 per day for bed occupancy. Typically, they will have between 80% and 100% of the treatment costs reimbursed, depending on their illness and the type of treatment.
Pros and Cons of the Healthcare System in France
The French healthcare system is generous and comprehensive. If you are a legal resident, you are eligible for public healthcare coverage, regardless of your employment status or income level. This represents a significant shift from the previous system, which required meeting specific employment conditions.
Like many countries with universal healthcare, France’s healthcare system can have long wait times for hospital services and specialist referrals, in particular, for psychiatry. Taking out health insurance in France is one way to reduce wait times. By going private, patients can receive treatment in a facility that is more private and comfortable.
A private health plan can also cover services that require substantial out-of-pocket payments from patients, such as dental and vision care. It can also cover the remaining 30% of basic care costs that patients pay out of pocket as a co-pay when using the public system.
Who is Eligible for Healthcare Coverage in France?
All legal residents who have resided in France for three months are eligible for France’s public healthcare system.
However, there are some additional conditions to be aware of before joining the French healthcare system. Expats must be living there in a “stable and regular” manner.
That means that short-term tourists are not eligible. Nor are people who don’t intend to continue staying long-term, as well as people who will be living for less than six months of a given year.
People who spend the winter in the south, use France as a base, but travel for more than half a year, or anticipate leaving the country after a few months, should opt for private healthcare coverage that protects them no matter where they go.
How to Register for Healthcare
The first step for individuals born outside of France to access the public healthcare system is to register for a social security number at the local CPAM (Caisse Primaire d’Assurance Maladie).
To do so, you will have to bring your passport, visa (if applicable), birth certificate, lease, and proof of income.
You’ll also have to demonstrate that you’ve been living in France as an expat for at least three months. Copies of utility bills are a good kind of documentation.
While at the CPAM office, you can also register for your national health card or Carte Vitale and get advice on how to register for a local doctor in your neighborhood.
Carrying your Carte Vitale with you to any healthcare appointment in France is essential.
With the card, you will be reimbursed directly from the insurance fund within a week for the consultation or treatment, meaning you don’t need to pay upfront.
Visiting a GP – with your Carte Vitale in hand – is your first step when you need help. You are free to choose any doctor you prefer, but you must register with them and declare them your primary physician in order to claim full reimbursement for your visits.
Health Insurance Options for Expats and Foreigners in France
People consider France one of the most expat-friendly places to live, primarily due to its public healthcare system.
However, 96% of French people hold some form of private health coverage. As with many other things, it’s wise for expats to follow the locals’ lead.
If you’re staying for more than three months, you can register for the French healthcare system through your local government office.
However, if you’re unsure about your plans, carrying private healthcare coverage is a prudent choice. Without some kind of coverage, you’re responsible for 100% of your medical costs.
An international health insurance plan is a wise choice for many expats. If you plan to travel, your expat plan will accompany you and provide coverage wherever you are in the world.
And if you want access to private health care, your international health plan will make it easier for you to use private facilities.
Understanding Specialist Referrals
Knowing how to see a medical specialist in France isn’t always so straightforward. For instance, the national public health system covers dentists, but at a different reimbursement rate. Their services are more in line with specialist healthcare, but you don’t need a referral to make an appointment.
However, you do need a physician’s referral to see most other specialists. Without one, you’ll have a larger co-pay. However, there’s an exception to every rule.
In the French healthcare system, you don’t need a doctor’s referral to see a gynecologist, pediatrician, or ophthalmologist.
And if you’re under 26 and want to see a psychiatrist, you don’t need a referral for that either. But for everything else, from dermatology to cardiology, you have to speak with your GP first.
Find the Best International Medical Coverage
- Compare multiple quotes from top insurers
- Get expert advice at no additional cost
- Find the right plan for your needs and budget
Healthcare in France FAQs
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Yes. Patients in France can usually choose their own general practitioner (médecin traitant) and specialists. Registering a primary doctor with the public healthcare system helps ensure you receive the highest reimbursement for many medical services.
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Prescription medicines are generally affordable. The French public healthcare system reimburses a large share of prescription costs, while complementary private insurance often covers most or all of the remaining amount. The reimbursement rate depends on the medication and its medical benefit.
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Yes, but there are important differences. Patients can usually book directly with a specialist, although seeing your registered primary care doctor first often results in a higher reimbursement from the public healthcare system.
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Many doctors in large cities and popular expat areas speak English, particularly in private hospitals and international clinics. However, English is less common in rural areas, so expats and visitors may find it helpful to use a translation app or seek out English-speaking providers.
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Waiting times are generally shorter than in many comparable countries, especially for primary care. However, some specialists and non-urgent procedures may have longer waits, particularly in areas with fewer healthcare professionals.
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A mutuelle is complementary private health insurance that helps pay the healthcare costs not fully reimbursed by France’s public health insurance system. While it is not mandatory for everyone, most residents choose to have one because it significantly reduces out-of-pocket expenses.