Our Guide to Doctors, Dentists and Healthcare in France

France boasts a healthcare system that is highly acclaimed throughout Europe. Patients can access the country’s exceptional medical services, which the government partially funds.

However, individuals must pay the difference between the state funding amount and the actual cost of the treatment they receive.

This means patients may still have to pay a portion of their medical expenses out of pocket. Despite this, the French healthcare system remains amongst the best in the world, offering top-tier medical care to its citizens.

It is advisable to obtain additional insurance or private medical coverage to avoid incurring costly medical expenses. Upon arrival in France, and for the first three months of living there, you will need your EHIC, or GHIC, to pay for your medical care. If you plan to stay in France longer, without working, you’ll need to register your S1 form on arrival.

After this time, you can register for a French health card, known as carte vitale, with the CPAM. To help you obtain the best medical cover for you and your family, we offer an English-speaking healthcare insurance service.

French Doctors

When you enrol in the French healthcare system, we recommend registering with a local doctor. This ensures you can access regular medical check-ups and quickly address any health concerns that may arise.

However, finding a doctor with available appointments can be challenging, especially in certain areas. In such cases, some mutuelle providers offer medical consultancy services as part of their insurance packages. These services can connect you with qualified medical professionals who can offer advice, answer your questions, and guide you to appropriate medical care if needed.

You will be asked to pay € 30 upfront whenever you see your doctor, and it is a legal requirement for each GP to display their prices. You will be automatically reimbursed a percentage of the fee by the state health insurance provider (70%); however, the remaining 30% must be paid by yourself, or your mutuelle if you have opted to take a top-up policy to cover the difference.

If you are looking for the right healthcare and medical insurance cover for your family, we offer personalised healthcare insurance and top-up health services to help you find the package that best suits your needs.

Women’s Healthcare

Gynaecologists are available through France’s public health insurance; the French call them ‘ginéco’. A consultation costs 40 euros per visit (since July 2025). Here’s the link to the gynaecologists’ database.

In France, having a baby is relatively affordable thanks to the public health insurance program. Public health insurance covers all expenses for the first 12 days spent in a public hospital. If the mother is discharged within five days, she is entitled to home visits from a midwife, which insurance also covers.

However, if you prefer to deliver in a private hospital, you must have health insurance. Fees can reach up to 5,000 EUR, so it’s important to be prepared.

Abortion is legal up to 12 weeks of pregnancy in France. However, later-stage terminations are possible if two physicians confirm that the birth puts the child or mother at severe risk of incurable illness or death. Contraception is readily available in France, and around 65% of the cost is reimbursed. Routine breast cancer and cervical cancer screening is also available.

To avoid unexpected costs, you may want to obtain health insurance to cover you and your family for any eventualities. If you would like help to obtain the appropriate health insurance package for you and your family’s needs.

Children’s Health Care

Children’s healthcare is free through their parents’ or guardians’ public health insurance. When you move to France, you can request a health booklet (carnet de santé) from your local Mairie or Centre de protection maternelle et infantile (PMI).

Children must have 20 compulsory medical visits up to age 6. France also has a detailed vaccination schedule for children aged 0 to 13, and for children born after 1 January 2018, vaccinations are mandatory for:

•    diphtheria
•    tetanus
•    polio
•    whooping cough
•    Haemophilus influenzae B
•    hepatitis B
•    meningococcus C
•    pneumococcus
•    measles, mumps and rubella (MMR)

Consultation Fees for Children in 2026

The GP consultation fees for children under the age of six are slightly more expensive, but haven’t increased in 2026:

• Starting on January 1st, the consultation fee for children under 2 years old will remain €40.
• For children aged 2 to 6 years, the consultation fee remains at €35.
• Technical procedures and one-off consultant opinions (APC) have different prices.

We recommend a top-up health insurance cover that at least covers all costs related to your child’s hospitalisation.  Complete the form so we can help you get the perfect healthcare cover for you and your family.

Hospitals in France

France has two types of hospitals: state-run hopitaux and privately run cliniques. Doctors can refer patients to either. Public healthcare reimburses most hospital costs; however, patients are expected to pay a daily fee for ‘board and lodging’. Again, mutuelle insurance is advisable to cover at least all hospitalisation costs.

Understanding Hospital Fees

In France, patients pay fixed fees for certain healthcare services that national insurance does not fully cover.

One such fee is the hospital flat-rate charge (forfait hospitalier), which applies to all inpatients and covers some accommodation costs. This fee is due each day of hospitalisation, including discharge, at 23 euros for general hospitals and clinics and 17 euros for psychiatric services, both effective 1 March 2026.

Exceptions include pregnancy, childbirth, or the 12 days postpartum; hospitalisation of a newborn within 30 days; work-related accidents; or coverage under complementary universal health coverage or state medical assistance. Assurance Maladie does not reimburse the fee, but private insurance may cover it.

Accident and Emergency Fees - FPU

Similarly, emergency department visitors not admitted face a separate fee, the FPU, set at 23 euros from 1 March 2026. Patients are informed and must settle this fee upon leaving.

Private insurance fully reimburses the emergency fee if the policy is active. Understanding these fees helps patients anticipate costs and coverage.

Dentists and Dental Treatment

Routine dental services used to be covered at up to 70% by French health insurance. But, this rate was changed in October 2023, with dental care procedures covered by Health Insurance at 60%.

If you have complementary health insurance and your contract includes it, your “mutuelle” will reimburse the difference.

Additional dental services such as crowns and braces are usually quite high, so it is recommended that you opt for a top-up insurance to cover any unforeseen circumstances, especially if you have fast-growing children who you think may require specialist work done on their teeth during their teenage years, with specialist orthodontic treatments such as braces, twin-blocks, etc…

Pharmacies/Chemists in France

France has plenty of pharmacies, each staffed by highly qualified and knowledgeable pharmacists. If you fall ill, you’re often advised to go to your pharmacy for advice. Prescriptions have different reimbursement rates depending on the type of medicine you require.

Here’s a fun fact – pharmacists in France are trained to identify certain fungi. If you go foraging in the autumn and want to check your collection, your pharmacist can identify the poisonous varieties for you, free of charge!