With all the discussions about the US healthcare system and how Europe seems to have it better, I wanted to explain how the French healthcare system works and why it has its pros and cons.
The Good Stuff
In France, healthcare is universal. Everyone has access to social security, whether you have a job, are looking for one, or are homeless. If you have a job, a percentage of your salary funds Social Security. If you don’t, a percentage of your benefits above a certain minimum goes to Social Security as well. If you are homeless or earn under $10K per year, you can apply for universal health insurance that covers all your medical bills.
Routine checkups with a GP have fixed prices, currently at 23 euros ($30) per visit. Social Security refunds 70%, so you only pay 6.9 euros ($9) unless you have health insurance or earn under $10K, in which case you pay nothing. This applies to prescription drugs and any referrals from your GP.
You need a GP to determine if you need more tests, scans, or to see a specialist. If you go straight to a specialist (except for dentists, ob/gyn, and ophthalmologists), you pay 100% of the fee.
Alternative therapies like acupuncture and homeopathy are covered. You can even get a thermal cure for depression paid by Social Security. Psychotherapy and smoking cessation treatments are also covered.
Every five years, you are entitled to a free full checkup, including hearing, eye, and teeth exams, lung scans if you smoke, blood tests, etc. Any issues found during this checkup are treated for free.
If you are pregnant, you can choose a private clinic to have your baby, courtesy of Social Security, due to a shortage of beds in public hospitals. For other private treatments, you are covered at 70% of the public rate and must cover the remaining 30% and any private care premium.
The Bad Stuff
The fixed prices for medical services are set by Social Security and rarely revised. A GP needs to see many patients to make a decent living on 23 euros per visit, which can affect the quality of care. Overwhelmed by patients, routine checkups may require several weeks of waiting, and emergency visits can take several hours. Hospitals are generally understaffed.
House calls by doctors are rare nowadays. Dental treatments are priced even lower, making it financially challenging for dentists. Basic treatments like cavities and root canals are underpriced, leading dentists to push for more expensive procedures like crowns to make up for the loss. Crowns are priced freely, but Social Security only refunds 70% of its set rate, which hasn’t been revised in years. Dentists often charge much more, sometimes resorting to unethical practices.
Extensive dental treatments are often spread out over long periods, causing temporary fixes to deteriorate. This can lead to patients seeking treatment abroad, which is partly refunded by Social Security. This situation discourages doctors from pursuing advanced specializations and adopting new practices or equipment.
Free abortions are available, but contraception is not, leading many women to opt for the free option. The system has a significant deficit due to poor administration and patient abuse, with people frequently seeking treatment and pills. Campaigns have tried to curb this abuse and cut costs, but the system remains in bad shape.
In Short…
Despite its flaws, the French healthcare system contributes to one of the highest life expectancies in the world, well over 80 years. If you move to France, companies can help you navigate international healthcare.
How do you handle healthcare? Would you prefer the French healthcare system?