VISITING THE DOCTOR IN FRANCE

Whilst the present fee for a consultation with a GP (médecin traitant) is 26€50,  many specialists will charge higher fee.
This fee for your GP will rise from the 22nd December 2024 to 30€

The full cost will not be passed on to the patient. Seventy percent  will be covered by health insurance for most cases, long-term illnesses will get 100 percent of their money back, and those with a good mutuelle will continue to be reimbursed all or much of the difference between the 70%.

If you are a resident of France, you should be registered with a specific doctor, a médecin traitant. Registration is not obligatory but if you do not have a nominated GP, you will  receive  less money back from the Assurance Maladie (National Health)  via your carte vitale.

You may visit any doctor at any time, but will not benefit from this  reduced rate of reimbursement.

USEFUL FACTS FOR CHOOSING YOUR GENERAL PRACTITIONER IN FRANCE

• A consultation with an approved GP costs 26€50, RISING to 30€ from 22nd December 2024 (price applicable on October 2024.)
• A visit to your chosen doctor will be reimbursed at 70% of the consultation, less your contribution of 2€.
• If the doctor is not your médecin traitant, the ‘Assurance Maladie‘ will only reimburse you 30 % of the consultation, less your contribution of 1€ .
• If you have not yet designated a doctor, you can obtain lists of doctors in your region from your local CPAM (Caisse Primaire d’Assurance Maladie) or by visiting  www.ameli.fr where you can also register online.
• Your chosen médecin traitant does not have to be a GP. He or she may be a specialist with whom you have regular contact for example, but obviously you need to take into account his proximity for visits.
• Where a doctor practices within a group, you must still register with a specific doctor from the group practice However, if that doctor is absent, you will still benefit from the higher rate of reimbursement if you see a partner.
• Different members of a famille may register with different doctors.
• You do not have to consult your médecin traitant every time if you do not wish, but you will be reimbursed at a lower rate for visiting another doctor with whom you are not registered .
• If you are resident, and registered with the health system, you should have automatically received Cerfa form No 12485*01 Déclaration de Choix du médecin traitant.  It is on this form that you state your choice of doctor.
• The form should be taken first to your chosen doctor, who will fill it in with you, and stamp it. He or she is in fact agreeing to be your médecin traitant. He may agree for you to register directly online.  If not, the form should than be submitted by you to CPAM (Caisse d’Assurance Maladie) office.
• If you have lost the form originally sent to you, you can obtain another from your local CPAM, or it can  be downloaded at   www.ameli.fr.
• If you wish to change your médecin traitant, you may do so at any time by filling in another form and submitting it to the CPAM.
• If you are on holiday elsewhere in France, and cannot attend your chosen médecin traitant, you may attend any doctor and will be reimbursed at the same rate.
• Once you have chosen your médecin traitant he or she will be responsible for your records, results and referrals to specialists. However, there are certain exceptions for referrals. You may make appointments directly with: gynaecologists, dentists, ophthalmologists.

UPDATE YOUR CARTE VITALE
CHOOSING YOUR MUTUELLE
MAKING DOCTOLIB APPOINTMENTS
MON ESPACE SANTÉ