Healthcare in France

Written by Luis Minvielle Moderated by Oleksandra Dosii

Luis Minvielle

Luis is a writer with over 5 years of experience in B2B software. Even though he has always worked in tech, a sector he regularly publishes about, his initial incursions into writing were, curiously enough, music essays discussing scenes from different parts of the world—most likely to deal with his unfulfilled ambition of becoming a neo-soul crooner.

Oleksandra Dosii

Oleksandra is a dedicated marketer with a passion for growing HR-tech products. She believes content marketing is about delivering high-quality content that provides value—not just generating leads. Since 2016, Oleksandra has been involved in tech talent relocation.

Last update: July 1, 2025

Next update: Scheduled for February 1, 2026

Interesting facts:

• In 2023—according to data released in March 2025—France was among the top EU countries for government health spending, with 8.9% of its GDP going to healthcare. This is one of the highest ratios in the bloc.
• As an expat, you can access the public healthcare system once you’re registered and contributing to the system

• For working-age adults, mutuelle plans can range from €35 to over €100 per month, depending on the level of cover and the insurer.

   

Overview of the French healthcare system

If you’re in France with or without a visa, chances are you’ll receive excellent healthcare, and it might just cost you a €30 copay for a visit. This is a fraction of what other developed nations have to offer.

France’s healthcare system is frequently cited as one of the most complete and high-performing in Europe. It is a mixed model that combines the principles of social health insurance (SHI) with strong state involvement. This way, it provides universal coverage for nearly 100% of the resident population.

At its core, the system is financed through statutory health insurance contributions, complemented by tax revenues, which include earmarked taxes such as those on tobacco and alcohol. This structure allows France to deliver a broad basket of healthcare services, though cost-sharing (e.g. co-payments) applies for most essential services. To mitigate these costs, about 95% of the population holds private complementary insurance (mutuelle) that covers co-payments and other out-of-pocket expenses.

The Ministry of Health leads health policy, working alongside the SHI and regional health agencies (Agences Régionales de Santé, ARS) to plan, regulate, and monitor the delivery of healthcare. This multi-level governance aims to balance national standards with responsiveness to local health needs.

Service provision in France is highly pluralistic:

• Primary care is largely delivered by self-employed, fee-for-service general practitioners.
• Hospitals include public facilities, private non-profit institutions, and for-profit clinics, with care funded mainly through activity-based payments (T2A).

• The system is hospital-centric, though recent reforms have sought to strengthen primary care, encourage multi-professional group practices, and promote care coordination.

   

Health insurance in France

France’s health insurance system stands as the centrepiece of its universal healthcare model. All legal residents, including expats once registered, are covered by the statutory health insurance scheme (Assurance Maladie). This system is funded primarily through social contributions, alongside specific taxes such as those on tobacco and alcohol.

What it covers

France’s Assurance Maladie stipulates general coverage, but it does not cover all healthcare costs in full. Patients are typically reimbursed at fixed rates set by the system (known as the ticket modérateur), regardless of their income. On average:

• Ambulatory care (GP and outpatient visits): 70% reimbursed by Assurance Maladie.
• Hospital care: About 80% covered.
• Prescription drugs: Reimbursement rates depend on how effective the drug is—100% for rare diseases and highly effective treatments, 65% to 15% for most medications, and no reimbursement for treatments considered ineffective. Since 2021, for instance, homeopathic treatments are no longer reimbursed.

For most services, patients pay upfront and are later reimbursed. More providers are now offering the tiers payant system, where patients don’t have to advance the full cost. Seeing a specialist without a GP referral usually means lower reimbursement (30%), unless it’s for maternity care, gynaecology, ophthalmology, or psychiatry for under-26s, which stay at the standard 70% rate.

People with chronic illnesses can join the ALD scheme, which exempts them from co-payments for care linked to their condition. This supports millions of patients with conditions like cancer, diabetes, or mental health disorders.

On top of this, low-income residents can get the Complémentaire Santé Solidaire (C2S), which ensures 100% coverage for approved treatments and prevents extra charges. The 100% Santé reform also guarantees full coverage for a basic selection of dental, vision, and hearing care, which makes these services much more affordable.

Complementary insurance (mutuelle)

Around 95% of people in France also hold a mutuelle, or complementary insurance, which helps cover the remaining costs not reimbursed by the public scheme. A mutuelle is optional but highly recommended, as it reduces out-of-pocket payments for services like dental care, optical treatments, and private hospital rooms.

How much does health insurance in France cost?

The cost of health insurance in France depends on two components:

1. The mandatory statutory health insurance (Assurance Maladie)
2. Optional complementary insurance (mutuelle)

For most employees and self-employed workers, contributions to Assurance Maladie are automatically deducted from gross salary. The employer covers a portion (typically about 13% of gross salary), and the employee contributes roughly 8% of gross earnings. Self-employed workers pay through social contributions, which vary based on income.

Where costs vary significantly is in the mutuelle. While not mandatory, most residents—including almost all expats—choose to have one to cover co-payments and services with low or no reimbursement from the public system (e.g. dental, optical, private hospital rooms).

According to recent figures from The Connexion:

• The average monthly mutuelle cost for a retired person is around €130.
• For working-age adults, plans can range from €35 to over €100 per month, depending on the level of cover (e.g. basic vs. enhanced dental and vision benefits) and the insurer.
• Many employers contribute at least 50% of mutuelle premiums for employees, as required by French law.

Premiums are influenced by:

• Age
• Health status (for certain private plans)
• Level of coverage (basic vs. extended benefits)
• Whether the plan includes coverage for family members

It’s worth noting that under the Complémentaire Santé Solidaire (C2S), low-income households can receive full complementary coverage at no cost or a very reduced rate (about €1 per day).

In practice, most expats report that combining Assurance Maladie with a mutuelle provides strong financial protection, with relatively low out-of-pocket costs for everyday healthcare.

How to access the healthcare system in France as an expat

Expats in France can access the public healthcare system once they are registered and contributing to the system. This coverage is funded through tax contributions deducted from salaries or paid directly by the self-employed.

Who can access it?

• Expats employed in France are generally enrolled automatically by their employer, but ultimately it is the individual’s responsibility to make sure registration is completed with the local social security office (CPAM).
• Self-employed workers who make the required social contributions are eligible.
• Retirees who have reached official retirement age in their home country can also apply for coverage.

Short-term visitors:

• EU citizens can use their European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) for temporary stays.
• UK citizens can use their Global Health Insurance Card (GHIC), which replaced the EHIC post-Brexit.

Support for undocumented immigrants

Those living in France without a residency permit may be eligible for State Medical Assistance (Aide Médicale de l’État— AME ), provided they:

• Have lived continuously in France for at least 3 months
• Have no legal residency documents
• Have financial resources below a set threshold

AME covers up to 100% of medical and dental care costs at rates set by Sécurité Sociale, and exempts patients from upfront charges if they present their AME card.

Applicants must submit forms and documents (proof of identity, proof of continuous residence, proof of income, and ID photos) in person at their local CPAM office. This coverage is valid for one year and must be renewed annually.

Additional guidance: Santé publique France provides handbooks in 15 languages to help expats understand their healthcare rights and the procedures that apply to their situation. More resources can be found on official government sites.

English-speaking doctors in France

While French is the primary language of healthcare in France, it is possible to find English-speaking doctors, particularly in large cities such as Paris, Lyon, and Nice, as well as in regions popular with tourists or expats. According to embassy listings (such as those provided by the UK Foreign Office and the US Embassy in Paris) and booking platforms like Doctolib, many GPs, specialists, and dentists in these areas indicate that they speak English—although the level of fluency can vary.

Expats often mention on forums such as Reddit that private clinics and international hospitals are the most reliable places to find English-speaking professionals. Pharmacies in city centres and tourist districts are also more likely to have staff who can assist in English, though this is not guaranteed.

What to do in an emergency

In a medical emergency in France, you should call:

• 112, the European-wide emergency number
• or 15 to connect directly to SAMU, France’s medical emergency service.

Both numbers are free to dial from any phone. You can also go directly to the nearest hospital’s les urgences (emergency department), where care is provided based on medical need, not ability to pay.

If an emergency occurs after your first three months in France, costs will generally be covered under the public healthcare system, if you are registered. However, during your initial months—before your registration is complete—it is highly advisable to have short-term health insurance or travel medical coverage to protect against potentially high medical bills.