CONSULT A DOCTOR

In France, doctors are self employed. If you need to, you can consult the general practitioner or specialist of your choice.

You will find a list of doctors and their contact details in the URCA’s infirmary, in chemist dispensaries or on the website: www.pagesjaunes.fr

However, if you are entitled to French Universal Health Cover, the Caisse Primaire d’Assurance Maladie requires you to choose a médecin traitant (GP).

His/her role is to coordinate the various consultations and tests required to monitor your health. You should first consult your “médecin traitant” who may then, if necessary, refer you to the relevant health specialist.

To declare your médecin traitant (GP), fill in the “bénéficiaire” (beneficiary) section of the form and ask the doctor of your choice to fill in the “médecin traitant” section.

Sign the form and then send it to the CPAM responsible for your file.

When you make an appointment, remember to ask if your doctor is “conventionné” (health-service contracted) or not.

Only consultations with doctors (general practitioners or specialists) who are health-service contracted with the Assurance Maladie (médecins conventionnés) can be reimbursed by Social Security.

You can also consult the annuaire santé to find out whether your doctor is “conventionné” (health-service contracted) or not.

General practitioners and specialists usually consult from Monday to Saturday morning.

FEES USUALLY CHARGED BY DOCTORS

Below are the fees usually charged by doctors:

• Health-service contracted doctors charge €26,50 for a consultation. Social Security reimburses about 70% and your supplementary health insurance (“complémentaire”) reimburses the rest. However, €1 remains payable by the patient.

• Consultations with health-service contracted doctors with “dépassement d’honoraires” (surcharge) cost more than €26,50. Social Security still reimburses 70% of €26,50 and the rest is reimbursed depending on the conditions of your supplementary health insurance and €1 remains payable by the patient

• A consultation with a non health-service contracted doctor (médecin non conventionné) will not be reimbursed.

Fees are higher during the weekend, bank holidays, night-time and for home visits.

BUYING MEDICATION

In France, medication can only be purchased from a dispensing chemist (pharmacie). Only medications prescribed with a doctor’s prescription (ordonnance) are covered by Social Security. You need to give your prescription to the chemist to receive your medication.

Certain medications are sold over the counter without a prescription in dispensing chemists but they are not reimbursed by Social Security. It is possible that these costs can be claimed via your supplementary health insurance if your contract provides for this.

There are a great number of dispensing chemists all over the city. They are usually open from Monday to Saturday morning.

If you urgently need medication outside of dispensing chemists’ opening hours, there is always a pharmacie de garde (on-duty pharmacy) open at night and on Sundays and bank holidays.

To find out the name and contact details of your closest pharmacie de garde (on-duty pharmacy), call 3237 or click here .

HOSPITALS IN FRANCE

The French hospital system is made up of public hospitals and private clinics.

Public hospitals and some private clinics have signed an agreement with the Assurance Maladie and are “conventionnés” (with health-service contracts). This means that if you are entitled to French Universal Health Cover, you will receive higher reimbursements if you use a health-service contracted institution.

Public hospitals must always have staff available to provide care and emergency treatment.

EMERGENCY NUMBERS

The emergency numbers allow you to reach the emergency services 24 hours a day free of charge.

Make sure to specify the following 3 points:

• Who you are? victim, witness, etc., give a phone number to be called back, if needed
• Where you are? give the precise address of the place where the services must intervene.
• Why you are calling? Specify the reasons for your call

European emergency number: 112 (emergency centre closest to the call point)

SAMU: 15 (medical emergencies)

Firefighters: 18 (serious emergencies)

Pharmacies on duty: 3237 or http://www.3237.fr/