Living in France and Dealing with Healthcare

Summary: What can expats living in France now expect in terms of health care since the government reforms?

British retirees who buy a home in the French countryside or even in its larger towns or bigger cities have recently found themselves having to worry more about healthcare than they did in the past.  The French government is cracking down on economically inactive expatriates who are below pension age, according to the Daily Telegraph.

In this article, we’ll look a little more closely at what France is doing in regard to expat healthcare.  We’ll also explore what to expect when living in France and dealing with healthcare issues on a day to day basis such as going to the doctor or finding a hospital in this popular relocation spot.

Expat Healthcare Rule Changes Don’t Impact Everyone

First things first, if you are thinking of living in France don’t panic - the expat healthcare reforms don’t impact everyone.

The French government has decided it will no longer extend state healthcare to British expats who are not paying into the system or who are not of pension age.  The rules change is not retroactive, but new expats might get caught up in the web.

According to the UK Department of Health, this basically means that below-retirement age expats need to look into getting private medical insurance.  The changes do not affect European Union citizens who are actually working in France.  When expats who work in France stop working, their benefits extend for up to two and a half years.  After pension age is reached however, full access to the system is once again granted.

Whilst this does mean the relatively free ride for non-pension-age retirees to French medical care is essentially over, this doesn’t mean EU citizens cannot get healthcare within France.  When private insurance is obtained, expats can readily enjoy the excellent French medical services.

Getting healthcare in France is a little different than some expats might be used to though - some of the practices in France please current expats and a few drive them up the proverbial wall!

Going to the Doctor in France

Going to the doctor or visiting a hospital in France provides experiences that many Westerners are not used to!  The reports from expats vary, mostly depending on location, but Britons and Americans might find a few practices a little unusual.  Some things expats need to know before going to the doctor or a hospital in France include: -

Paperwork.  Unlike American doctors’ offices, paperwork is not quite as big of a deal in France.  Doctors very often take the time to flesh out their patients’ medical histories verbally and most will file basic paperwork for their patients.

Home visits.  Whilst the days of doctors paying calls are long over in some locales, this is not the case in much of France.  This might cost patients more, but it is not unheard of – especially in the countryside.

Hospitals.  Reports of hospital experiences vary greatly, often depending on location.  Some expats report very smooth, courteous service; others say there’s no place like home when you’re sick.

Language.  Unless you speak French, count on language providing a bit of a barrier to medical care in some areas.  Whilst doctors and nurses might speak a spot of English or even prove fluent, this is simply not always the case with every person you will come into contact with in a doctors’ office or hospital.

Recent changes in France’s public health policies have impacted expats, but not quite to the extent that many feared.  Living in France and going to the doctor might now require a private health insurance policy – until pension age is reached – but it is still more than possible to get care when it is needed.

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