An Introduction to the Healthcare System in France

The healthcare system in France is recognised as one of the best in the world. While it is not complicated for the French, at first, it can feel a bit confusing for expats living in France. In this article, we aim to give an overview of the system so you know roughly what to expect.

That said, it is essential to give a ‘health warning’  that each CPAM (Caisse Primaire d’Assurance Maladie) office has a certain amount of autonomy to apply its own rules. As a result, it’s essential to establish what your rights may be in the area you’ve chosen to live, before deciding to make the move, especially if you have ongoing health issues.

How the Healthcare System works in France

In most instances, the French social security system doesn’t cover the full cost of medical treatment. There are, however, some exceptions to this, such as when a long-term, serious illness is present. It’s safest to assume, however, that you will not receive a full refund.

What typically happens is that the social security system refunds a fixed percentage of the cost that they have determined for the treatment you have received. See below, ‘Where it gets a bit complicated’ for more detail.

When you visit a GP in France, you’ll be asked to pay a bill of 30 euros (€35 for children under the age of 6, €39 for toddlers under 2), of which 70%, less a processing fee of 1€, will be reimbursed by the state.

The exact rough percentages are accurate for most hospital treatments. You can easily organise and follow all your costs and supporting documents with Ameli, the online platform for the Assurance Maladie/CPAM.

Key Healthcare Metrics and Trends

Both strengths and challenges characterise the healthcare landscape in France. With substantial public health spending and a strong workforce, France remains committed to ensuring access to quality care.

However, rising wait times in emergency rooms signal areas needing improvement. This overview examines key statistics and trends that shape the current state of health care in France, highlighting its progress and ongoing challenges.

Health Insurance Market Size

In 2025, France’s health insurance market was valued at approximately USD 191 billion, with a projected compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of about 2.9% from 2025 to 2030, reflecting steady expansion across both public and private coverage sectors.

Public Health Spending

In 2024–2025, publicly funded health spending in France amounted to approximately USD 7,367 per capita (PPP), notably higher than in the United Kingdom, where spending was around USD 6,747 per capita (PPP), reflecting France’s relatively greater investment in healthcare services after adjusting for purchasing power parity.

Hospitals and Clinics in France

According to the most recent data, France has approximately 2,987 hospitals, including both public and private entities. The number of private, profit-driven hospitals and clinics has fluctuated over the years; nonetheless, the overall trend indicates a gradual decline in smaller facilities, especially between 2000 and 2012. Recent years have witnessed initiatives aimed at stabilising and modernising hospital infrastructure.

General Practitioners and Nurses

As of 2025, there were 3,276 general practitioners (médecins généralistes) actively practising in France, marking a slight increase from previous years. This number, however, still reflects ongoing challenges in maintaining an adequate supply of general practitioners, particularly in rural and underserved areas.

Regarding nursing staff, France had 9.7 practising nurses per 1,000 inhabitants in 2021, above the EU average of 8.4. This figure has shown a gradual increase over the past decade, reflecting efforts to bolster the nursing workforce.

Waiting times in A&E/ER

The average ER stay in France is about three hours in 2025, with regional differences. In areas like Pays de la Loire, Brittany, and Nouvelle-Aquitaine, median wait times can exceed 3.5 hours. About 15% of patients wait over eight hours, showing ongoing pressure on emergency services.

Most French People Have a Mutuelle

Recent data indicate that around 95% of the French population has complementary health insurance, including “mutuelles”.

Private Medical Insurance

To cover the remaining 30% of your costs, most people in France take out a mutuelle/complémentaire santé. A mutuelle/complémentaire santé is an insurance policy that pays the part of your healthcare expenses that isn’t covered by the state.

This type of medical insurance cover shouldn’t be confused with private health care insurance in the UK. It is entirely different and isn’t underwritten based on your health status for acceptance.

Read our article to learn about how mutuelles/complémentaires santé in France work, and note that it’s important to shop around because prices vary enormously. What’s more, there are various ‘bells and whistles’ that can be added to policies if you need them, but be careful not to be misled into paying for them if you don’t need them.

For people on low income, there is the possibility of joining the CMUC (Couverture Maladie Universelle Complémentaire), which is the equivalent of a mutuelle/complémentaire santé and is provided free of charge by the state.

Where French Healthcare Gets Complicated

Real Prices

Many medical treatments in France are provided by professionals who have the right to set their own prices; however, for state reimbursement, there are fixed rates. The social security system sets a pricing standard, and whether or not your chosen doctor or specialist adheres to these prices is up to them.

In many cases, you’ll find that the prices charged are exactly as fixed by the social security, but if you’re in any doubt, it is well worth checking. Highly specialised treatments are often charged at a premium, and you can find yourself unexpectedly out of pocket if you don’t do your homework.

As you’ll discover in our article about mutuelle/complémentaire santé policies, there are ways to cover costs beyond the pre-determined social security limits, but always check your own situation.

Long-Term Illnesses

Long-term illnesses or Affections de Longue Durée (ALD) in France are commonly reimbursed in full, but not always. Again, this is a complex area, and while some of your associated treatments may be fully refunded, others may not be. Needless to say, again, this is something you should seek advice on so you know what to expect.

Where to Go if You Need Assistance

If you are already registered and you have a carte vitale, register with the Ameli online system, if not the CPAM (Caisse Primaire d’Assurance Maladie) office is the place to go to get help and to find out your rights. Like anything in a foreign language, it can be complicated at first to understand, but you should persevere, and at the start, take someone with you who speaks good French if you need to.

The capital city of each department has a large CPAM office and is responsible for processing and decision-making related to the French healthcare system at the local level. Some smaller towns will also have a permanent CPAM office, but very small towns and villages will generally have some CPAM presence from time to time.

The best place to find out when a CPAM representative is due to come to your town or village is to ask at your Mairie. For urgent inquiries, here’s a list of emergency numbers we hope you won’t need.