France

Before making an appointment with a doctor, make sure the doctor is “conventionné”, meaning that they have an agreement with the national healthcare system. You will initially pay the full cost of the treatment yourself at the doctor’s office. There are two types of conventionné doctors: some charge the official social security rate (secteur 1), while others charge an additional fee on top of the official rate (secteur 2). In both cases, CPAM will reimburse part of your medical expenses. The reimbursement amount is fixed, so the share you pay yourself may vary depending on which doctor you choose.

You will receive a treatment certificate (feuille de soins) from the doctor, which shows the amount you paid. You need this certificate when applying for reimbursement from the local health insurance fund (CPAM). Complete the feuille de soins form fully and include your permanent address. Sign and date the certificate, and submit it to the local health insurance fund while you are still in France. Be sure to attach any prescriptions, a copy of your European Health Insurance Card (or the temporary certificate that replaces it), and your bank details (name and address of the bank, SWIFT code, account number, and IBAN or BIC).

You can collect your prescription medicine from the pharmacy by presenting the treatment certificate (feuille de soins) and the doctor’s prescription. At the pharmacy, you will pay for the medicine yourself and receive another treatment certificate. Fill in this feuille de soins completely and include your permanent address and bank details. Sign and date the treatment certificates and submit them to the local health insurance fund (CPAM) while you are still in France. Attach the prescriptions and a copy of your European Health Insurance Card (or a temporary certificate replacing the card).

The amount of medicine reimbursements is calculated based on reference prices. Not all medicines are reimbursable. You must pay the full cost of any medicine that is not eligible for reimbursement. In France, prescriptions are generally valid for one year. However, the first supply of your medication must be collected within three months from the date on the prescription. After that, the prescription will no longer be valid (unless repeat dispensing has been explicitly authorised), and the pharmacy will not be able to dispense the medicine.

A doctor will provide you with a referral for hospital treatment. In the event of a medical emergency, you may go directly to a hospital. Present your European Health Insurance Card and proof of identity. In addition to a public hospitals, you may also seek care at a private hospital or clinic, provided they have a conventionné agreement with the French healthcare system. Please note that if you go to the emergency room but are not admitted to the hospital, a flat-rate fee will be charged.

Reimbursement for hospital treatment is 80%, or in some cases 100%. The patient must always pay the daily hospital charge and separate fees for major procedures (such as co-payments for certain treatment-related procedures and one-time fees for transportation to healthcare services). In most cases, the patient must also pay the remaining 20% (co-payment), any extra charges related to personal comfort, and a fixed fee of €20 per day of hospitalization. This daily fee represents the patient’s contribution to the costs of their stay and is not reimbursable.

For outpatient care received at a hospital clinic, you can apply for reimbursement from the sickness fund after the treatment, following the same procedure as for doctor visits. An invoice is usually sent a few weeks after the treatment to the address provided by the patient.

Ambulance transport in France is partially reimbursed in emergency situations. The reimbursement is usually 55 percent of the cost, but the amount may vary depending on the circumstances. With a prescription, reimbursement is possible if the patient’s medical condition requires it. Otherwise, emergency rescue is free of charge when it involves urgent medical care after calling the emergency services. For air ambulance transport, a doctor must confirm that it is medically necessary, and prior authorisation from the local CPAM is also required.

If your illness requires special transport when returning to Finland, you will be responsible for covering the full cost of the travel. It is recommended to take out travel insurance that covers these expenses. In case of an accident on ski slopes, it is the patient’s responsibility to have personal private insurance if rescue services are needed on the slopes.

Remember to ensure that your patient data is transferred between countries. You can provide those responsible for your follow-up care or your healthcare provider with the patient records related to the treatment you received abroad. If the patient records need to be translated, you will be responsible for arranging the translation yourself.

All doctors practicing in France are registered with the French Medical Council (Le Conseil National de l’Ordre des Médecins). The council is responsible for ensuring the quality and safety of care provided to patients. On the website of the Council (in French), you can find information about patients’ right in France.

There are also professional councils for other regulated health professions in France. You can consult their websites (in French) for further information:

• Surgeon-dentists: ordre-chirurgiens-dentistes.fr
• Pharmacists: ordre.pharmacien.fr
• Nurses: ordre-infirmiers.fr
• Midwives: ordre-sages-femmes.fr
• Podiatrists: onpp.fr

Healthcare service providers in France are required to publish quality and safety indicators related to the care they provide. More information (in French) is available on the website of the Haute Autorité de Santé (HAS). The website of the French National Contact Point also provides information in English about regional and national quality control of healthcare in France.

In the event of a treatment injury, the legislation and patient insurance of the country where the treatment was provided will apply. If you are dissatisfied with the treatment you received, you should first try to resolve the matter directly with the healthcare provider. The National Contact Point can help you identify the appropriate authority if you wish to file a complaint. You can also find information about complaints and litigation in France on the website of the French social security liaison body CLEISS.

The French healthcare system is based on statutory health insurance (SHI), which provides universal and mandatory coverage. The lists of medical procedures, medicines, and medical devices covered under the SHI are defined at the national level. All health insurance funds operate through a single national telephone switchboard, and the responsibility for providing care is shared among different service providers. These include private (independent) physicians, public hospitals, private non-profit hospitals, and private for-profit hospitals.