Health

In France, the State assumes the crucial role of administering the country's comprehensive health care system. Health care is provided within hospitals and by doctors, specialists, pharmacists, and other health care professionals working outside of them.

Doctors (médecins)

Registration and monitoring of doctors is carried out by the Ordre des Médecins. There are two main types of doctors:

  Médecin généraliste - a general practitioner, or family doctor, that may be consulted regarding any health problem
Spécialiste - a specialist who concentrates on a specific field of medicine

Patients are free to chose their doctor in accordance with their personal needs and family situation, but most people choose a doctor who works within the framework of the social security system. Names of doctors may be obtained by inquiring with the local pharmacist or social security office.

Patients are responsible for paying consultation-related fees and their reimbursement by Sécurité sociale, social security, depends on the status of the doctor. Disclosure of fees and status are required and are classified in the following manner:

  Conventionné - social security fixes the price of a consultation and covers a fixed portion of the cost, the difference being reimbursed in part by the patient's mutuelle
Conventionné à honoraires libres - high fees are authorized, thus the cost of a consultation varies in accordance to social security and mutuelle reimbursement rates.
Non conventionné - price is fixed solely by the doctor, with the level of reimbursement relying almost uniquely on your mutuelle.

While patients may also be treated by médecines douces, alternative doctors in fields such as homeopathy or acupuncture, the rate of social security and mutuelle reimbursement is much lower.

When moving to France, patients should bring copies of their medical records to assist with possible medical consultations. Babies in France receive a Carnet de santé that will contain their medical history from birth until the age of majority. Other medical records related to social security claims are contained in the feuille de soins, an insurance form. Following the full automation of the social security system, the feuille de soins will be replaced by the Sésame vitale, an electronic medical history record. As in many countries, doctors are bound by the Hippocratic Oath to uphold the doctor-patient privilege of privacy.

Hospitals (hôpitaux)

France offers both public hospitals and private clinics, both affording a similar quality of care, although the level of reimbursement may differ. Private clinics are for-profit entities, run independently from the state, and generally have higher fees. Hospitals or clinics should be chosen based on the nature of healthcare a patient desires and insurance status.

Public hospitals are run by the state and tend to have automatic payment agreements with Sécurité sociale. Within some hospitals, certain doctors maintain a private practice, in addition to their regular work, for which services are charged separately.

A service called SOS médecins is available in most large towns. This service has doctors on call 24 hours a day who make house calls for serious problems.

At least one hospital in an area maintains doctors and surgeons on call 24 hours a day, including weekends and holidays, to provide emergency services.

SOS médecins 

Pharmacies (pharmacies)

In France, many medicines are available uniquely through prescriptions given by doctor, known as ordonnance, and may only be purchased in a pharmacy. A pharmacien is registered with the Ordre National des Pharmaciens and possesses a State diploma in pharmacy. In addition to filling prescriptions, a pharmacien may be able to advise a client on non-prescription medicines for minor ailments and can explain the correct usage of a medicine.

Only medicines prescribed by a doctor qualify for reimbursement from sécurité sociale or other health care regimes, however, not all medicines are reimbursed by sécurité sociale. An ordinance will have a price tag, or vignette, with a color-code indicating the level of reimbursement. In the case that the composition of a medicine is identical, pharmaciens are authorized to fill dispense "generic" medicines to replace the prescribed brand.

Pharmacies are usually closed on Sundays and public holidays; however, there is always one pharmacy in a town or region on duty for emergency purposes. The address of this pharmacy, known as the pharmacie de garde, is published in the local press and posted on the doors of the other pharmacies.

Covering Expenses

Sécurité sociale, the social security system, currently provides for universal medical coverage, complementary protection, and in addition dispenses the poorest patients from paying initial treatment costs and waiting for reimbursement.

  All individuals with employee status and students meeting certain requirements are covered by Sécurité sociale.
An insured person's coverage benefits extend to immediate family members, who are not covered under an employee or student regime.
People not covered by Sécurité sociale are required to take out special insurance, known as assurance personnelle.
To increase reimbursement rates, additional insurance may be acquired through a mutuelle or assurance complémentaire.

Social security