Health professionals & services

Health professionals are trained to treat illnesses and help patients maintain or improve their health.

Categories of health professionals

There are two general categories of health professionals:

• Medical practitioners, such as doctors, surgeons, pharmacists, dentists, and midwives
• Other healthcare providers, such as nurses, nursing assistants, physical therapists, opticians, and nutritionists

The public health insurance website (Ameli) has a directory to help you find the health professional you need.

Prescription drug coverage

In France, over-the-counter and prescription drugs are generally sold at pharmacies. The social security office has established a list of medications that are partially or fully covered if they have been prescribed. However, for each box of medication, you must pay a €1 deductible. This deductible is capped at €50 per year per person.

For example, if a prescribed medication costs €20 per box, public health insurance will cover 65% of this amount (€12.50). The following formula is used: €20 x 65% = €13 – €1 (deductible) = €12. If you have complementary health insurance, the remaining 35% will be covered as well.

In most cases, you will have no out-of-pocket expenses if you go to a pharmacy that is part of the complementary health insurance (tiers payant) system. Such pharmacies are directly reimbursed for the cost of your prescription by the social security office as well as by your complementary health insurance provider, if you have one. However, if the pharmacy is not part of the system, you will have to pay for your prescription and receive the reimbursement later.

Pharmacists are only allowed to give you one month’s worth of medication (unless you will be travelling for longer than a month).

Health care services for students

All higher education establishments in France provide free medical coverage to their students. Students can contact their institution’s health and wellness services office (Service Universitaire de Médecine Préventive et de Promotion de la Santé, or SUMPPS), which offers free consultations with different types of health professionals. These services are available during the institution’s operating hours. Outside of these hours, you must contact your primary care doctor.