Looking after elderly relatives in France: We check out what assistance is available for expats…

First of all, did you know that in France, children (where finances permit) can be obliged by the courts to support their parents and grandparents?

Putting this obligation aside, having family to stay brings much joy, but having them move in also brings costs –not only food and lodging, but you might also need to undertake home improvements and organize for extra help to care for them. In France, it’s possible to get support for some extra costs for those caring for elderly relatives; we take a look at what’s available and how to apply

Home Improvements

When you need to make necessary improvements to your primary residence to accommodate the elderly and persons of reduced mobility, a tax credit is granted for the installation and replacement of equipment specially designed to assist your new residents.

It is a very specific list of works covered, and they must be carried out by a professional, however you may be eligible for 25% of the cost to be reimbursed against your tax bill.

How to claim: Declare the full amount spent, including VAT, in box 7WJ of your ‘déclaration de revenues’. The cost of works is capped at 5.000€ for a single person household, and 10.000€ for a couple, with an extra 400€ for every dependent.

Tip: Keep the invoice for the home improvements in case you are asked for it.

Health Cover

If your family member is not already in the French health system, but has a CEAM (Carte Européene d’Assurance Maladie ) you can add them to your own health cover as a dependent.

How: Use form cerfa 14411*01 and send it on to the French organisation which oversees your own cover (CPAM, RSI,…).

Home Help

You need to apply for an Allocation Personalisée d’Autonomie  or APA (as at the  local Mairie). After this a home visit is conducted with a doctor and a social worker, to establish the needs of your family member and your involvement in their day-to-day life. This may mean you are remunerated for your assistance, or that external home help can be engaged to help as necessary.

Note: 1 month after you receive confirmation that APA is approved, a declaration should be made of the personnel engaged or the help being received (cerfa 10544*02).

The amount of support you receive will depend on the revenues of the person you are caring for as well as how much help they need.

Tax implications & reductions

As far as the French taxman is concerned your family member is now one of your household for tax purposes; even if their pension or disability income is taxed at source it should be declared on your household tax return, and if not it should be added as the income of a dependent.

If your dependent has no income, then you should reduce your total household revenue by 3.407€ per dependent, per annum (2017).

Your annual taxe d’habitation may also be reduced if your dependent is over the age of 70, lives with you and in the previous year had a declared taxable income below 10.697€ (16.409€ for two people: 2017).

The list of de-taxed installations is a long one, so get in touch to check if your planned works are eligible – info@frenchadminsolutions.com

by Jo-Ann Howell at French Admin Solutions who helps expats settle into life in France.

The post Caring for elderly relatives in france – what support is there for expats appeared first on The Good Life France.

Sue is from Kent in the south of England where she worked in education and the Probation Service before retiring. She and her husband Bob, an ex-Police officer moved to Pas de Calais in 2006. The couple had visited the area often and fell in love with the pace of life, the beautiful countryside and the house which they rented for holidays. When the owners decided to sell Sue and Bob leaped at the chance to buy it and have never looked back.

Sue says that the village where they live is small, “only 200 inhabitants, six of whom are permanent English residents. We have been welcomed into the village and take part in all the activities. Bob has even been “Pere Noel” a couple of times and is on the bureau of one of the village associations.”

Sue has had first-hand experience of the health care system and says it “has been amazing.”

“Because my grandmother had had breast cancer, my mother ovarian cancer, my uncle prostate cancer and two of his daughters, my cousins, also had breast cancer, one of whom died at the age of 46 and the surviving sister had positively tested for BRCA2, I had been having yearly screenings for the last five years and had thought about getting genetically tested previously but had done nothing about it. In October 2010 my lovely French gynaecologist encouraged me to go for genetic testing. In January 2011 I went to the Centre Oscar Lambret at Lille and was seen by the Onco-geneticist, who explained about the testing and my options if I tested positive. I would strongly suggest that if you go for an appointment like this take an interpreter because I got a touch of “white coat syndrome” and found it difficult to understand English, let alone French, thankfully my hubby understood what was said. The blood test was done and I was asked to supply a copy of my cousin’s results to assist with the analysis. I was told at the consultation that my first blood test was positive. I had been expecting it but it still came as a shock. The Onco-geneticist spoke to me very gently about my options again and was very kind.

“I made an appointment to see a gynaecologist at CHAM, Rang du Fliers, regarding the removal of my ovaries and fallopian tubes and bonus, this time, the consultant spoke perfect English. He arranged for me to go in for my op, all went well and I recuperated well. With regard to the risk of breast cancer, I was opting to have yearly MRI’s but then considered the mastectomy and chatted about that with the gynaecologist.

“Well, I made the decision in September 2011 to go ahead with my double mastectomy with immediate reconstruction by expander implants. I went to meet my surgeon, who explained all the pros and cons for having or not having such surgery. He initially stated that it was mutilation of a healthy body but my mind was made up, I could not sit and wait with this time bomb hanging over me. I went into hospital in May 2012 and had the double mastectomy. All of my breast tissue was removed and then expanding implants were put behind my pectoral muscles. All went well – what an amazing team of people they are at Centre Oscar Lambret. Throughout the summer last year I went every fortnight from June to August to have my expanders filled with saline, the surgeon locates the small valve on the implants and then uses a syringe to fill the implants, little by little, until I was at my optimum size. My breasts were then left to settle and the reconstruction operation took place in January 2013, this is done by removing the expander implants and putting the permanent implants in their place. Finally I had my nipples formed and tattooing done under local anaesthetic on 5th July. I have never had a moment of doubt about the decision I made. “

We asked Sue if she had any particular issues – language for instance?

“I did occasionally have problems with the language, particularly when it was a stressful situation, i.e. getting the news that I carried the gene. But overall I have found that I am able to get by with the French language that I have learnt through classes we had in the UK and also we have a weekly class in the village. The staff at the hospitals I have been to have been amazingly patient and very caring.”

Sue adds that she also felt supported by advice from outside France, and for an English language expat this has been extremely helpful.

“Throughout my journey I have been very fortunate to have had the help and advice from the National Hereditary Breast Cancer Helpline, based in the UK and run 24/7 by Wendy Watson. She was the first woman to have preventative surgery because of her family history, 20 years ago. Wendy gives advice about all the options available to women (and men) who carry the BRCA1 or BRCA2 mutant genes and other mutant genes.  The helpline also has a Facebook page and I am the admin for the Northern France group.”

Note: You can find more information on the BRCA 1 and BRCA 2 gene and testing here: http://www.breastcancergenetics.co.uk./ and also http://www.nhs.uk/Livewell/Breastcancer/Pages/Breastcancergenes.aspx

More on expat healthcare in France

More on Doctors and Hospitals in France

The post Healthcare in France | Expat experience appeared first on The Good Life France.

1.  Health Insurance is widely known as ‘complementary’:

As you are required to cover any difference between what the state pays and the total cost of treatment, French residents often take out an insurance policy to cover themselves. This is known as complementary, or top up, health insurance (see our feature What is Top Up Insurance for a clear explanation). The difficulty comes when deciding who to insure yourself with, as there are well over 1,000 providers of complementary medical insurance in France. Buy generic pills online safely from satisfaction guaranteed.

2.  There are two different types of insurer:

The two different types of provider of complementary health insurance are mutuelles and the commercial insurers (more on this subject in our Expat Guide to Medical Insurance in France. The difference being that mutuelles are non-profit organisations whereas commercial providers are not. Whilst premiums are not radically different between these two types of insurer, it can be important to understand the underlying philosophy of the provider before you take out a policy.

3. Extra cover is important, but will raise premiums significantly:

French complementary cover has been described as ‘weak’ in the past. There are a number of options that come as extras to a policy which may be expected to be included elsewhere. For example, to avoid the costs of unexpected trips to the hospital, it is important to take out cover against hospitalisation.

This is not the only thing that only comes as an extra, out-patient cover and routine trips to a GP or specialist will also set you back more money than you might expect.

4. Are you comfortable with dealing with health insurers in a foreign language?

It may seem obvious, but having a good understanding of the French language can be very helpful to ensure you get the cover you require. Health insurance policies can be difficult enough to understand in your own language let alone one that you find difficult to comprehend.

5. If you are retiring to France, will your requirements change?

If you are moving to France in order to retire there, it will be worth thinking about the health cover that you may require as you grow older. With advancing age, requirements that you have not considered can become vitally important, so it is important to think thoroughly about what you might need in future before you purchase health insurance.

This advice from a health insurance professional aims to help you gain peace of mind when considering moving to France. These are just five key points relating to a very large industry in France. However, they represent the main things to consider when choosing a health insurance provider, especially if you are considering retirement in France.

The post Five Things To Consider When Choosing Medical Insurance in France appeared first on The Good Life France.

For those who are hoping to start a new life in France, concerns over future healthcare needs will certainly be at the forefront of their minds. If you are travelling from a country where free healthcare is almost guaranteed – as in the UK – into a new system, and possibly at an age when health concerns will become more readily apparent, there can be a great deal of confusion.

If you are looking to settle in France, it is useful to know a few things about the French healthcare system. Firstly, it is important to state that they have one of the most pioneering and developed healthcare systems in the world, consistently emerging at a higher level than Britain when rated by national health agencies. With fewer restrictions on new medication and hospitals free of MRSA, expatriates in France could find a better level of service than they may have previously experienced.

However, restrictions to the health budget in recent years have delivered some changes to the French health system that are worth considering when looking at expatriate health insurance. A retiree from the UK with a state pension can expect to have healthcare costs covered by the E121/S1, and those claiming benefits in the UK can have their bills paid for two and a half years through the E106/S1, but you’ll find that there’s more to it than that. Generic drugs difference treatments anti anxiety pills, ED pills and more.

It can be difficult even for French nationals to receive free healthcare and a top up form of insurance to make up a potential short fall in costs versus cover is common.

The E121/S1 and E106/S1 documentation allows British expats in France to apply for the CMU Scheme (Couverture Maladie Universelle), wherein pre-existing medical conditions are disregarded. Working expats are taxed at six to seven per cent of income to pay for this.

Since 2007 it has become a requirement for British expats to contribute to the healthcare system in France, although certain illnesses and situations are exempt from payment. For those UK expats who do not qualify for the above schemes or documentation, it is strongly recommended to take out a personal health insurance policy in order to have access to healthcare.

A new initiative among health insurance providers to expats revolves around an understanding of local healthcare when abroad and some have tools which enable customers to find local doctors and offices supported by their policies.

There are a wide variety of policies available from leading providers internationally. Budget policies often don’t cover anything outside of hospital; however more comprehensive cover will include outpatient cover. There are a number of providers that will deliver expat cover for a range of different requirements, including AXA PPP, Bupa and Allianz, aiming to help deliver peace of mind as you begin your new life in France.

The post Healthcare For UK Expats in France appeared first on The Good Life France.

In surveys which rate the national health service of countries worldwide, the French healthcare system consistently comes out near the top. The World Health Organisation has said that France has one of the best performing systems in the world in terms of availability and organisation of health care providers.

That said, the organisation of healthcare in France for expats from anywhere else can seem overly complex and difficult to navigate.

Outside of hospitals, most health professionals, including doctors are self-employed.  They charge a visitation fee to their patient and the patient has this partly refunded by the French healthcare system and partly by voluntary insurance (if they have it).

In order to be eligible for reimbursement, patients must register with a primary care doctor who will be required to maintain medical records (something that has not been a requirement previously).

How the French healthcare system works

1. There is a state controlled health insurance social security system – l’assurance maladie (website for Assurance Maladie). This provides for some reimbursement of charges to patients.

2. There is a voluntary health insurance system called assurance complémentaire. Also known as “top-up” insurance and provided by private insurance companies and non-profit mutual companies (called Mutuels). This provides for the “rest” of the charges to the patient. When we say “the rest” – that amount depends on the level of cover that you take out with your “top-up” insurance; this is not a mandatory requirement.

In order to be able to access the health service in France, and thereby receive reimbursement of costs, you need to be registered with l’assurance maladie (expat eligibility for state healthcare).

l’assurance maladie is comprised of a number of different insurance funds which operate under Government supervision which bears the financial responsibility.

The main health insurance fund is a General Fund called the Régime Général that covers about 85% of the population working in industry and commerce, as well as the unemployed and those retired and not affiliated to another fund, e.g. retired expatriates

Within the Régime Général there is a health insurance fund for those not affiliated through business or employment. This is called the Couverture maladie universelle (CMU) and is the system for retired expatriates.

At a local level the General Fund is administered by the Caisse Primaire d’Assurance Maladie (CPAM). They have offices throughout France in most major towns.

For the self-employed including self-employed expats in France there is a separate State controlled insurance scheme called Régime Social des Indépendants (RSI). They have regional offices and any healthcare enquiries for the self-employed go through them rather than through the local CPAM office.

For those employed in other areas of work not covered by the Regime General or CMU there are separate health insurance funds for agricultural workers and specialist professions, such as doctors and civil servants.

If you are an expat employed in France your employer will take charge of your registration with the correct department.

We have lots of helpful guides for visitors and expats in France just click on the healthcare section for more information.

The post Overview of the French healthcare system appeared first on The Good Life France.

The National Health Service in France is not free; it is funded by contributions to a social security fund (SCU) which is made up of insurance funds paid into by French residents as well as by fees charged at the point of treatment.

The main health insurance fund is a General Fund called the Régime Général which covers the majority of the working population, the unemployed and those retired and not affiliated to other insurance funds. There are separate health insurance funds for agricultural workers and specialist professions such as doctors, civil servants, railway workers.

There is also the CMU – Couverture maladie universelle.

CMU is an affiliate of the Régime Général and is the branch that includes membership for expatriates in France.

For expatriates permanently living in France, it makes sense to join the national state health insurance system via the CMU. Application does not exclude any pre-existing conditions and is almost certainly much cheaper than any private healthcare insurance scheme for the majority of people.

When you are registered in the French national health services you will generally pay charges at the point of treatment (except when in hospital) and then be reimbursed a proportion (in some circumstances 100%) of the charges by the state. Most people in France take out additional voluntary insurance (also known as “top-up” insurance) to cover any shortfall between state reimbursement and the cost of healthcare including the cost of some medicines in France.

I am an expat in France – am I eligible for the French National Health Service?

If you are a British expat who has reached retirement age and you are receiving a state pension you are eligible to join the CMU. The UK NHS Overseas Healthcare Team says that “If you are receiving a UK state pension or long-term incapacity benefit, you may be entitled to healthcare paid for by the UK. You will need to apply for form S1 which you need to present to the French health authorities. You will then be treated on the same basis as a resident of France”.

In addition they state that “Once you have registered your S1 … you will be entitled to a UK-issued European Health Insurance Card (EHIC), allowing you to access state-funded necessary medical treatment when you visit other EEA countries besides the one in which you are resident, including if  you return to the UK”.

You should aim to apply for your S1 form at least one month before you move to France.

If you are an expat working in France – either as an employee or self-employed and paying social contributions you will be able to register for the French national health service.  If employed your employer will handle your affiliation and may also offer a company based scheme of voluntary insurance, called a prévoyance collective. Your contribution to the state insurance fund depends on your circumstances but an average employed single person will pay around 8% of income. There are breaks for parents and those on low income.

If you are resident in France for five years or more you will be able to join the CMU.

You may be able to claim some CMU cover for a limited time even if you are below the official state retirement age and are not working in France, for instance if you have worked in the UK and paid contributions in the UK within a specified time before moving to France. You can check with the NHS Overseas Healthcare Team in Newcastle who will advise you if the S1 form will cover you – the maximum is for 2.5 years.

You should know that once you make France your permanent place of residence your UK EHIC card (European Health Insurance Card) is no longer valid for treatment in France.

Expat registration for state healthcare in France

To join the CMU you will need to sign up at your local Caisse Primaire dAssurance Maladie (CPAM) office. CPAM administers the CMU through hundreds of local offices across the country and handles reimbursements. Your local Town Hall will be able to provide details, or check the  Yellow Pages (pagesjaunes.com) – type in CPAM and the town where you are searching.

If you are self-employed you will need to make payments via one of the state controlled insurance schemes for the self-employed administered to by the RSI “Regime Social des Indépendants”. Check with your local Town Hall for details, these offices are regional so you may have to use the internet or phone for direct communication.

If you are not from within the European Economic Area and want to apply to the CMU you need to demonstrate that you have a right to live in France through a residence permit (carte de séjour) which you must hold for a minimum of three months and maybe much longer according to an individual regional health authority’s interpretation.

Once you have registered for the national health service in France you will be sent a a Carte Vitale, a card which reflects your rights and entitlements and enables you to “automatic” reimbursement.

CMU reimbursement will cover a proportion of healthcare costs depending on treatment and circumstances for instance a visit to the Doctor will cost around €23 and you will be repaid 70% by the state.  Most people take out what is called “top up “ insurance to cover the shortfall. Occasionally there are consultants costs that fall outside the normal reimbursement levels called Dépassements.

CPAM have an English speaking helpline service based in Normandy and they may be able to help you if you have difficulties or questions:  08 11 36 36 46

The English language CPAM helpline office is based in Normandy and staff have access to local records but outside of the region they may need a few days to access paperwork in order to help you.

The post State Healthcare in France for expats appeared first on The Good Life France.

You may be eligible to join the French national health service insurance scheme for expatriates called CMU (Couverture Maladie Universelle ). For the great majority this is certainly the cheapest form of healthcare in France. The system works by reimbursement of paid at point of treatment costs.

You will also eligible for state healthcare if you work in France or are self-employed in France.

Click here for a full and clear explanation of expat eligibility for the French national health service.

Most people in France take out a “top- up” or voluntary insurance

Being registered for the national heath service in France generally doesn’t mean free treatment though there are some circumstances where it is free such as those on a low income. Most people in France take out “top up” insurance, a sort of voluntary insurance.

What it means is that you will be reimbursed a percentage of the fees charged.

The level of reimbursement differs with the treatment, the practitioner and your circumstances.

A typical doctor’s visit will be reimbursed at about 70%. If you are eligible for low income assistance or the illness is deemed serious, or long-term, reimbursement will usually be at 100%. How much you get back varies, but if you want “full” cover then the option is to have top-up insurance.

Top-up insurance – called assurance complémentaire santé in France, is designed to cover “the rest”. By the rest, we mean reimbursement up to what the Government says a procedure should cost – not what it actually costs, which could be more than the Government recommendation.

Even with voluntary/top-up insurance you may still have to pay some costs depending on your policy, treatment and circumstances.

For instance all medical consultations carry a €1 surcharge that must be paid by the individual and legally cannot be covered by the insurer. You must register with a single primary care doctor (médecin traitant) in France to receive the full reimbursement available (read more about registering with a doctor here). Some insurance policies will not cover you if illness has arisen from drug or alcohol related accidents/illness or from issues arising from listed “dangerous sports”.  Some consultants are allowed to charge more than the Government “recommended” price for treatment, the insurer may not cover the whole cost above the “recommended” price.

It pays to discuss with your top-up insurance policy provider what level of cover you require/are willing to pay for.

Be aware that some companies have a qualification period (délais de carence) ranging from a few months to a year meaning that you may have a reduced level of cover – or no level of cover until the period of delay expires – though you will still be paying premiums.

Assistance with top up insurance costs is available to those with a low household income – you can get advice from CPAM (Caisse Primaire d’Assurance Maladie), the local office network which administers state healthcare or for those who are self-employed from the regional RSI “Regime Social des Indépendants” office.

How to source the best “Top-up” insurance for you

The different levels of top up insurance

The post What is Top-up Insurance in France? appeared first on The Good Life France.

Voluntary health insurance in France or as it is often called “top-up” is an insurance policy which goes towards the cover of healthcare costs for residents registered for state healthcare.

In order to apply for top-up insurance, first you must register with the State health service.

For British expats who are covered by a UK health service S1 form this means via the CMU (Couverture maladie universelle) a branch of the state health service.

Read here for more info about CMU, how to join the CMU an eligibility for expats.

Employees will have their state health service registration taken care of by their employer.

If you are self-employed, your health service registration will take place as part of the process of your business registration.

Once registered with your local Caisse Primaire dAssurance Maladie (CPAM) office – they administer the CMU, you are free to take out top-up (voluntary) health insurance.

There is a huge choice of top-up insurance providers in France and it can be quite daunting to search for one that is right for you. There are more than a 1000 companies in France – private companies or mutual non-profit organisations, including some companies with English language services.

Non-profit mutual organisations may sound as though they should be cheaper, after all they are “non-profit” but this isn’t necessarily the case – however they are more accepting of pre-existing medical conditions and do not require a medical questionnaire. Private insurance companies will almost certainly require a medical questionnaire and may not accept some conditions or increase premiums because of a known health issue.

In France the voluntary (“top-up”) insurance is called “assurance complémentaire”. If you are looking for provision from a French company you need to search online or through the telephone directory for Assurance or Assurance complémentaire.

There are also brokers who may be able to help you search for the appropriate insurance vehicle.

You can search online and complete an online questionnaire with most insurance providers to get an idea of costs; comparison sites like Assurland or Empruntis may be helpful – though you will need to be able to complete the forms in French.

The choice of a top-up insurance policy is important.

Most contracts are based on a percentage of the social security tariffs – called Tarif de Convention. The price you pay depends on the percentage level you choose. If a contract offers 100% – this means 100% reimbursement of the official rate.  However, the charges that doctors or consultants apply may be higher than the official rate and some contracts therefore offer 200% or more reimbursement.

Standard doctors’ visits and medicine costs are usually well covered by the normal 100% cover but specialist treatment and hospitalisation could leave a gap.

There is a list of 30 serious diseases and illnesses where costs are reimbursed by the state at 100% including cancer, heart disease, insulin dependent diabetes or long duration diseases like a stroke or where hospitalisation exceeds 30 days.

Outside of these circumstances, the state reimburses 80% of hospitalisation costs, a “top-up” insurance policy will cover more but may not cover all costs – it depends on the level of “top-up”.

Sounds complicated? Well, yes it is and it pays to do your research or to speak to someone with experience before you come to France so that everything is sorted out and ready to use straight away.

More on the different levels of “Top-up Insurance“

The post Expat Healthcare guide | “Top-up” insurance in France appeared first on The Good Life France.

“Top-up/Voluntary insurance in France is an insurance policy which provides for reimbursement of medical costs in addition to the State insurance fund. How much additional reimbursement you get depends on what level of cover you pay for.

Finding the right voluntary (called “top-up”) insurance provider isn’t that easy in France. There is such a wide choice between providers that it is hard to make comparisons but the main criteria for cost is your age and the level of cover you require.

When it comes to choosing the right health insurer for your “top-up” or voluntary insurance,  you need to bear in mind a few questions – none, one or more may be relevant to you:

Your age

If you are over 60, some private insurance companies (and some non-profit mutual companies – called mutuelles) will not accept you.  If you’re over 65 the number of companies who will not accept you increases. So if this applies to you the first search criteria is to seek a company who will accept you as a client and have a tailored policy for over 60s/over 65s.

Comprehension

if you are not fluent in French and can’t fully understand what you are signing up to you might want to consider a company with an English speaking helpline.

Your health

If you are aware of a pre-existing medical condition then a non-profit mutual company is probably going to be more suitable for you than a private health insurance company. The former will not require you to complete a medical questionnaire, the latter will and may exclude you on the grounds of a pre-existing medical condition.

Mutuelles do not consider your health circumstances when considering your application – private insurers may do so and may also exclude cover for certain illnesses contracted before the insurance was taken out.  Therefore the amount you pay through a Mutuelle will not be affected by your health but premiums charged by private health insurer could be higher or result in rejection of your application.

Level of Cover

The amount you pay will depend on the level of cover you want from 1 to 5. This will differentiate reimbursement costs according to what treatment you may have including consultants, specialist treatment, dentistry etc.

Level 5 isn’t necessarily the best value and also means you are highly likely to have to submit to a medical examination.

To give you an idea of costs:

UK Expat, aged 60, unemployed, registered for national health service care in France might expect to pay about €30 per month for level 1 cover. The same person might expect to pay €100 p.m. for level 5 cover.

UK Expat, age 65, retired (and receiving state pension), registered for national health service care in France might expect to pay about €35 per month for level 1 cover.  The same person might expect to pay €112 p.m. for level 5 cover.

You can also purchase temporary insurance cover for the time between arriving in France and registering in France – but this is generally an expensive option so, if you are eligible for state health care, don’t delay getting registered, make it a priority.

Premiums are calculated and charged pro-rata from the date of issue to 31st December and thereafter renewed on 1st January in each following year as French law requires policies to be issued on a calendar year basis.  Where you take out a policy for the first time, a deposit is payable followed by monthly payments terminating at the end of the Calendar year. The Policy renewal process then kicks in on a Calendar year basis. Additionally there is a tax charged on the provision of voluntary insurance.

If you want to change insurers in France, you must notify your current insurer of termination in writing at least a month before the policy comes up for renewal.

The post Expat guide to medical top-up insurance in France appeared first on The Good Life France.

The basic rule is that drugs with patent protection eg “branded medicines” are in scope for non-reimbursement or reduced reimbursement if there is a generic copy of the drug available.

The official line is that either the drugs are not effective or there are similar generic products on the market that are cheaper.

Foreigners in France are often surprised to find that doctors in France do not prescribe antibiotics as freely as elsewhere. In the UK and US for instance, a visit to the doctor with a sore throat or cold invariably results in a prescription for antibiotics – not so in France, you may have to shop around to find a doctor willing to give you a prescription.

The rate of reimbursement currently ranges from 100% for medication recognized as irreplaceable and expensive down to 15% for drugs which are considered to be of low medical value. The doctor or pharmacist will have details of reimbursement to which you are entitled. If you have voluntary (“top-up”) insurance check with your insurer what rate of reimbursement you will receive under the level of cover you have chosen.

The post Medicines in France appeared first on The Good Life France.