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This part of our site has articles about France. For other countries, please use the links below
France
Spain
General Advice
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Healthcare
Before moving to France, you should ask at any main Post Office for an application form for the new European
Health Insurance card (EHIC). The card will entitle you to
free emergency healthcare in France plus certain types of ongoing healthcare. It is however only intended
for people who are ordinarlity resident in the uk. It is a useful back-up during your first few months in France,
but you should get registered in the French system as soon as possible. Read more about the EHIC at the UK Department of Health website
As soon as you take up a job or have had a state pension transferred, you need to be registered with the
French Social Security system, which will entitle you to a full healthcare service.
NB: There are specific regulations for registration with the social security if you:
- Work in France for less than 12 months for an employer based in the UK
- Are self-employed
...And members of your family have their residence in the UK or any other EU member state
In many ways, The Health system in France is very different form its British counterpart and more complex. Here
are a few things worth remembering:
- Unlike in Britain, you can register in France with any GP (médecin généraliste)/dentist you wish these
are listed like any other professionals in Les pages jaunes (yellow pages) Make sure however that any
doctor or dentist you consult is "conventionné" that is to say that she/he works with the French sickness
insurance scheme. The local Caisse de Sécurité Sociale (sort of local DHSS office) keeps a list of the doctors
who charge the official social security rate.
- You will find that generally GPs are more willing to do a home visit (visite à domicile) than they do in
the UK (particularly if there is a child concerned) You will have to pay for the consultation up front (E20 at the
surgery and E30 per home visit) and you should then apply for reimbursement of your expenses to your local Caisse
Primaire d’Assurance Maladie (CPAM).
- If you are given une ordonnance (a prescription) (which is very likely if you consider the French are the
biggest consumers of medicines in the world ! ), take the "vignettes" (which are like detachable stamps) off the
medicine containers, stick them on the "feuille de soins" (which you will be given at the surgery) and send this along
with the prescription to your local CPAM to apply for a refund. You won’t have to struggle much to find a chemist (une
pharmacie), as they are in France what pubs are in England - very popular! It is worth asking whether the drugs you have
been prescribed exist in a generic version as they will be considerably cheaper (Although GPs are under government
instructions to promote these they don’t always comply!)
- French social security cover for medical treatment is only partial and it may therefore be wise to take out a
complementary private insurance to cover excess charges you will incur should you need treatment.
("mutuelle" ou "complémentaire maladie" - contact insurance companies for subscription).
- Hospital treatment: If you get treatment in an approved hospital then the Caisse de Sécurité Sociale will pay
direct 80% or more of the costs to the hospital. You are liable for the balance and the fixed daily hospital charge
(forfait journalier) which again can be covered by a private insurance (see 4).
- In a medical emergency, such as a heart attack for example, the fire-brigade is often called upon as they are
also trained for intensive care and carry resuscitation equipment.
For further information on sickness benefits and maternity benefits, please contact the D.S.S. at the address below:
D.S.S. - Overseas Branch
EU Office Longbenton
Newcastle upon Tyne NE98 1YX
tel: 0191 213 5000
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