Practical health

Can six-month visa holders in France get a carte Vitale?

Short-term visitors usually use alternative means of accessing healthcare

Explained: Healthcare help for lower-income households in France

The complémentaire santé solidaire system aims to make quality healthcare accessible to all

How to deal with shoulder pain in France

Around 20% of adults suffer from it any given day

practical

What to do with your unused or expired medicine in France

French people are becoming more eco-friendly when disposing of medical tablets, capsules, creams, sprays and more

Is it possible to get a long prescription in France before extended stay in the UK?

Medicines are usually only provided for one month at a time

Digital carte Vitale: we try it out as a French residency card holder

Smartphone app can be set up in several ways, including by – some – residency card holders

What is in the law proposed to ease France's GP shortages

Medical 'deserts' affect many rural areas in particular

What are the pros and cons of holding an S1 form for healthcare in France?

If moving to France, you can apply for an S1 90 days before moving

List: Key points of France’s end-of-life law

MPs vote to give certain patients the legal right to end their lives in cases of severe and incurable illness

How French doctor sectors impact what patients pay

GPs and other specialists are grouped into three sectors that determine how much they can charge and how much patients are reimbursed

Health alert as giant African ticks spread northwards in France

Potentially deadly ticks, known for their heat-sensing 'stalking', are spreading beyond the Mediterranean

More than a million people to receive €44 payout from French mutuelle

Major insurer offers payout after bumper year

French MPs back plan to make new doctors set up in underserved areas

The controversial bill has been adopted in parliament, but many medical professionals are opposed

France declares mental health a national priority

Investment aims to tackle stigma as one in five is affected

Doctors threaten strike against bill mandating where they work in France

The new bill aims to combat ‘medical deserts’ but young doctors say it will ‘deteriorate access’

Reader feedback: How long does it take to get a carte Vitale in France?

It took much longer than the official advice of two to three weeks for most respondents in our survey

11 million people in France suffer from migraines - what help is available?

A third of sufferers never consult their GP about the problem

How to cope when a bout of ill health interrupts your new life in France

Columnist Cynthia Spillman gives her advice on staying positive

Retirees in France worst hit by mutuelle fee rises

Rates for individual policies have risen 25% in the past three years - try these tips to cut costs

Can non-French retirees obtain an Ehic card?

Some residents in France still benefit from UK international health card

What the latest World Health Organization report says about France

France has low obesity and heart disease rates but cancer diagnoses are high

Carte Vitale is now available digitally across France - is it available to foreign residents?

Users must have access to France Identité application, limiting who can digitise their health card

Are patients of a retiring French GP automatically signed up with new doctor?

It can be difficult to find a médecin traitant in some rural areas

Is it possible to get a carte Vitale in France without a social security number?

Refunds may be possible for medical expenses paid out whilst waiting for healthcard

Who is affected by France’s latest meningitis vaccination campaign?

The start of the year saw cases on the increase

Osteoarthritis: Women in France are not requesting the help they need

They are twice as likely as men to suffer from the painful breakdown of cartilage

Tip to find affordable top-up health insurance in France

Local mutuelles communales schemes can offer cost-effective health coverage for residents

Remember to check French doctors' Optam contract - or risk paying more

Mutelle top-ups do not necessarily reimburse patients for care from practitioners who have not signed a sector 1 Option de Pratique Tarifaire Maîtrisée

Launch of ‘secure medical prescriptions’ in France for certain painkillers - what are new rules?

Stricter rules are being put in place to fight addiction and falsified prescriptions

What is a Ghic card and does it work in France

Cards cover medical necessary health costs

Meningitis cases in France are at ‘exceptionally high’ level

Winter flu cases may be behind current hike with 90 cases recorded last month

Digital health cards, prescriptions, no-show fees: what impacts you as France’s 2025 health budget is finally approved

Healthcare will cost state over €265 billion in 2025 estimates budget

Did you know? La Poste will pick up medicines from a pharmacy and deliver them to you

Postal service is one of numerous services that are part of growing medical delivery sector

Pre-Brexit Ehics ending: what visitors to France need to do

Some 1.8 million UK Ehics are estimated to come up for renewal this year

Renewal and updates: what are the rules for French health cards?

Does our top-up insurance have to match the card dates?

How to find a dentist in France

Your options for finding routine and emergency dental care as well as English speaking practitioners

How much does health insurance cost in France?

Cover ranges from free of charge to up to several thousand euros for premium private cover

What is a mutuelle in France?

It is advisable to get a private, top-up health insurance policy if you have moved from the UK or US

French health authority issues pneumococcal vaccine recommendation for over 65s

Four seasonal vaccines are now recommended for this age group

Covid-19 tests are still reimbursed in France - but not for long

Reimbursement for most will stop after the epidemic season, but some have criticised the move

Health insurance in France: See average mutuelle cost for retirees after new rises

Prices have been rising steadily for several years with older people hardest hit

Faster health check for Britons moving to France

Senior Ofii official explains immigration medical checks can now be completed by a GP to reduce post-Brexit waiting times

How to save money on mutuelle cover in France

The cost of top-up health insurance is set to rise further in 2025

Flu: French health authorities extend vaccination campaign as cases soar

Vulnerable groups are being urged to get vaccinated as three forms of virus circulate

Are pharmacies in France closed on Sundays? What if I need medicine urgently?

Stocking up on medicines before the weekend is a good idea

Explained: France’s ‘power of attorney’ equivalent

France's mandat de protection future allows a named person to make decisions on your behalf if you become unable to do so

People in France can have 12 mental health support sessions per year reimbursed

Referrals by a doctor are no longer required

How hospital charges work in France and what is and is not covered by the state

Those without a top-up mutuelle insurance can see significantly higher fees

How do I deal with my sciatica and back pain in France?

Around 150,000 cases of sciatica are recorded each year in France

Are shingles vaccines free for people in the French health system?

A new vaccine was recommended by health authorities last year

Why your carte Vitale health card may have stopped working in France

We look at possible reasons and solutions if you have difficulties this January

How much do doctors earn in France?

Self-employed doctors are the highest paid of all ‘liberal’ professions in the country

Change to printed information leaflets for several medicines used in France

QR codes will allow details to be updated and include videos of how to take medicine

New rules aim to ease lack of dentists in many rural parts of France

Practices opening in areas with an existing high number of dentists will not receive state reimbursement

Healthcare: What's new in France in 2025

Certain specialist tariffs will rise in July 2025, impacting insurance premiums and healthcare access

French top-up insurance to increase by 6% in 2025

Ageing population and reduced state coverage cited as some of reasons behind hike

Is there financial help to purchase a mobility scooter in France?

Some UK disability benefits remain for Britons living across the Channel

Must I telephone first before going to hospital emergency centre in France?

The health ministry wants to reduce the strain on hospital services

Is appointment information automatically added to online French health space?

Documents can be found online for healthcare professionals and patients to see

What is changing for daily life in France this December?

A rise in fees for doctor consultations is a key change. There is also the opening of a new stretch of toll-barrier free - but paying - motorway

New date set for stricter painkiller prescription rules in France

Introduction of ‘secure prescriptions’ for tramadol and codeine delayed after some pharmacists said they were not ready

Why do some French GPs charge more than others?

The price of a consultation is rising in December - but some already bill patients at €30 instead of €26.50

Marathon effort boosts cancer support in France

Runners join Nice-Cannes Marathon to fund English-language cancer support services in Alpes-Maritimes

Child health booklets in France will be updated to include risks of screen time

Report by experts recommends banning screens for children under the age of three

Many French hospitals trial fingertip test for heart disease

Test takes 15 minutes and can detect early signs of the disease

French study tests psychedelics in alcoholism therapy

A groundbreaking experiment explores how psilocybin can be used to combat depressive symptoms in alcohol recovery

Strepsils, Olbas Oil, TCP: Find French equivalents to common remedies

Moving to France means navigating pharmacies and hunting down alternatives to treat everyday ailments

French carmarker provides solution for noisy roads

Engineers utilise vehicle noise-cancelling data to identify road noise and reduce environmental impact

Moving to France: how does a retiree apply for a health card?

The card is linked to your social security number, which you must apply for first

EU citizens have difficulty obtaining French digital health cards

The paperwork required to sign up for the service is available to residency card holders and French citizens but not to other EU residents of France

French hospitals’ revolutionary exoskeleton enables wheelchair-bound patients to walk

The technology improves their health and independence - and may soon be available for use in homes

Are foreign nursing qualifications recognised in France?

Brexit changed rules for Britons relocating to France

How do I ask for free French flu voucher if I did not receive one?

The 2024/2025 vaccination season has begun

GRAPH: Variation in flu vaccination rates in France in last 16 years

Figures have fallen for three successive years, including for over 65s

Allergy tracking app to ease shopping difficulties created by French students

Innovative app by students helps allergy sufferers scan products and share tips, enhancing supermarket experiences.