France considers linking health reimbursements to income to curb deficit State auditors urge reform as government faces €15.3bn shortfall in 2024
What is being proposed to help people in areas that lack doctors in France The new law on doctor location is set to improve ‘healthcare equality’, but doctors are critical
Assess your health with new official online platform in France The platform will help to create a national ‘barometer of commitment to physical activity’
news Map: How well (or not) each French area is served by health workers The map shows how each area compares to the national average for access to professionals including GPs, midwives and physiotherapists
State of French healthcare: key points of new official report Findings included high patient satisfaction but still a too-high risk of infection in hospitals
Is there a healthcare payment option for elderly second home owners in France? Exploring insurance options and state healthcare access for British expats
Former French PM claims cartes Vitale will not work in January: it is not true Elisabeth Borne evokes healthcare funding collapse to convince MPs to not vote for the motion de censure
Hospital transport change: French taxi driver protests cause 490km of traffic jams Blockades are underway as drivers fear redundancies and bankruptcies
French taxi drivers in ‘go-slow’ protest over hospital transport changes Multiple ‘snail operations’ are taking place as taxi drivers condemn the plans as ‘catastrophic’
I had cataract surgery in France After her vision deteriorated in one eye, Finistère resident Ann Edwards, 80, had to go into hospital for an cataract operation. Here, she talks about the procedure and post-op check-ups
How France’s new free health checks work People in four key age groups are eligible and the 30-45 minute checks are designed to offer better preventative care
Pharmacists set to stage national strike in France ‘More than one pharmacy has closed every day since the start of the year in our country’, pharmacists’ union warns
How does your area of France fare for delay to see a doctor? Some departments are in particular trouble when it comes to waiting times for specialists
The 7 ways France plans to improve end-of-life care Proposals include precise rules for the administration of assisted dying and palliative care
Which rural areas of France are hardest hit by lack of doctors? We also look at the countryside departments best served - and the situation for access to health specialists
Are acupuncture visits reimbursed in France? Some homoeopathic remedies are reimbursed but this is limited
Doctors oppose plans for video consultations at French train stations They recommend improving rail services to isolated areas instead
Six key points to note from French Prime Minister’s recent interview Fuel aid, taxes, medical fees and tackling crime were among the topics covered by Elisabeth Borne
How do I make and register a ‘living will' in France? Ensuring your wishes: the importance of providing hospitals with your living will
France: Using teddy bears to ease children's hospital fears The Teddy Bear Hospital project was launched in 2000 in Germany, and has spread to several countries including France
Where in France can you get your carte vitale on your smartphone? If you live in one of eight French departments, you can now download a digital version of the health card
Free health top-up scheme reinstated for S1 holders in France The subsidised ‘mutuelle’ for low-income UK and EU pensioners has quietly reappeared - time to reapply
How do I complain about bad healthcare treatment in France? Learn about the various avenues available for making an official complaint for treatment at a French hospital
Palliative care ‘non-existent’ away from French hospitals, says report France’s supreme audit court called for end-of-life care to be improved in retirement centres and at patients’ homes
Remote monitoring of patients in France moves into the mainstream The costs of monitoring patients from distance are now being covered by France’s health insurance scheme, Assurance maladie
French health insurance travel card: How it works and how to get one We explain France’s carte européene d’assurance maladie and who is eligible for one
How seeing a GP (or rather not) for some issues is changing in France The legislation aims to make it easier for patients to access certain health professionals without having to get a referral from their doctor first
French state to reduce the amount it contributes to your dental bills Private health insurers are set to pick up the shortfall
France visas, residency cards, French tax: see Connexion help guides The guides are in English and published in a digital format that can be downloaded as a PDF. Each has an extensive question and answer section
Why French pharmacies can now automatically store your medicine data We explain your rights under the new law and what information will be stored
Can I renounce French pension to obtain benefits of S1 health form? Having healthcare via an S1 from another country can have advantages when it comes to social charges
France mulls merging ID and health cards: How could new plan work? Critics say the idea would be ‘technically impossible’. But the system is already in place in other European countries
New law ‘will improve access to healthcare’ in France MPs in France recently approved a bill which will allow patients to see certain nurses and specialists without being referred by a GP
France lets healthcare staff without Covid jab return to work But, after more than 18 months away, questions have been raised about how many will want to come back
Can I get social charge credit on bank interest if have S1 in France? A British S1 holder asks if they can claim a tax credit against social charge deductions from their French savings account
Assisted dying should be legal, concludes French PM’s citizen debate 184 members of the public were tasked to look into end-of-life care in France by Prime Minister Elisabeth Borne
Can Americans access US Social Security income when living in France? For those moving from the US to France, we look at options for transferring funds and what to do about healthcare
Send independent doctors to parts of France with shortage, says report A consumer group has attacked the freedom of doctors to choose where they practise
Can I stay registered to my GP in the UK if I am a resident in France? We also look at which medical cards French residents should use when travelling
Do dual nationality citizens keep healthcare rights if leaving France? We also look at if you can keep your French bank account and what you need to do if leaving France permanently
My hip replacement success in France with new patient-centred protocol Why this surgery experience was improvement on 10 years ago, reader explains
How do I get a free healthcare check-up in France? Everyone who is part of the state healthcare system can get a free check-up every five years. We explain what it entails and how to get one
France considers charging patients for no-shows at the doctor Doctors in France say they lose two hours per week due to patients failing to show up for appointments without cancelling ahead of time
Autumn Covid booster recommended only for ‘at risk’ groups in France The vaccination will be offered alongside the one for seasonal flu
French citizens’ council votes for assisted dying (with conditions) It comes after France’s ethics advisory body earlier said that patients are increasingly ‘forgotten’ in end-of-life care
How do French healthcare costs change for long-term illnesses? If you have a long-term illness, declaration of the condition may provide you with reduced medical costs
Marches, mimosa, Molière: The week ahead in France This week (February 13-19) is also set to include a controversial healthcare debate (and a strike about it), another day of pension protests, a wine show and more
‘Make patients in France part of the team to save money and lives’ We speak to a surgeon about how he is trying to overhaul the patient experience in French hospitals
How can I find out which parts of France are lacking doctors? So-called ‘medical deserts’ are a big issue in France, but certain areas have better access to healthcare than others
Can I belong to US Medicare and the French healthcare system? We look at the rules for Americans living in France who want to retain their Medicare health plans
What help is there towards top-up healthcare insurance in France? Most people choose to ‘top up’ their healthcare cover through a private insurance provider but a system called complémentaire santé solidaire pays for this in some cases
The end of prescription rules for physiotherapist sessions in France? Normally patients need to see their GP before visiting professionals such as physiotherapists or speech therapists to avoid paying more
Explainer: the CSS, France’s free or low cost top-up health insurance Most people in France choose to ‘top up’ their healthcare cover through a private insurance provider but a system called complémentaire santé solidaire pays for this in some cases
Who has to pay the Puma healthcare tax in France? Early-retirees who move to France can join its health system but some have to pay for it
How to get a social security number and carte Vitale in France Obtaining a social security number is typically one of the first things to do upon arrival in France as it allows you to enter the healthcare system
How to find a doctor out of hours in France There are plenty of options in France to find healthcare as and when you need it if your doctor is not available
What is the French equivalent to a ‘lasting power of attorney’? France offers the mandat de protection future instead of the power of attorney
Explainer: French healthcare terms that are useful to know From Ameli to ticket modérateur to avis ponctue l, use our glossary of French healthcare terms to better understand the system in France
Sick note clampdown stops French workers ‘shopping around’ online Permission to stay at home will soon only be accessible from your designated GP – but the tighter rules have been met with criticism
What is a carte Vitale and why do I need one in France? The carte Vitale health card is very important to your life in France as it will allow you to be reimbursed by the state for healthcare costs
Explainer: Paying to see a doctor or health specialist in France The medical system in France can seem quite different to people coming here from the UK and US, for example – here are some useful pointers to help you understand
French mayors’ ideas to solve rural doctor shortages 'taken seriously' Rural mayors have presented the health minister with four solutions to healthcare ‘deserts’ using consultation results
Lack of doctors in France ‘means rural residents are dying younger’ Access to GPs is difficult in the countryside though this varies from one local area to another. Access to specialists and hospitals is also a concern
Five things they don’t tell you about… French attitudes to healthcare We take a sideways look at how healthcare is viewed in France - which may be a little different to your native country
Last days to benefit from open day event at French admin help centres There are over 2,000 France Services points around the country where people can get help declaring taxes, renewing driving licences, getting healthcare reimbursements, etc.
French pharmacists offer medical consultations in new trial Fifty pharmacies in Brittany are now able to advise patients who have 13 common symptoms, in an effort to compensate for a lack of doctors
Who can get a free health check in France and how do they work? The government is to offer everyone a free check at age 25, 45 and 65 but a system is already in place out of these age landmarks
Healthcare, climate, cigarettes: France announces its 2023 budget Absolute priority is to push inflation down and protect households, says Finance minister
Is there any support in France for English-speakers with Alzheimer’s We look into what help you can get if you have Alzheimer's or know someone with this disease
Hospital ratings: website lets patients compare French health centres The online tool grades quality and safety of care so patients can identify the best facilities, but a nursing union has concerns
Can I get a withdrawal agreement S1 when I turn 66 this year? We look at the terms for obtaining an S1 form and how the cover they offer has changed for some people post-Brexit
France faces summer paracetamol shortages due to supply delays The general public are asked to limit their use of the medicine to ‘immediate needs’
Patients’ group outlines solutions to A&E crisis at French hospitals Reinstating out-of-hours GPs is key, it claims, saying the government must act now
‘Your online French health space is ready’: is this message a scam? Some people have received an email relating to their new Mon espace santé digital health space and queried if it is valid
Explainer: Why having a designated GP in France saves you money We also outline how you can change GP if you so wish
