Health insurance is essential for everyone living in France, including newcomers.
If you’re planning to move here, securing the right coverage is crucial.
In France, there are two main types of health insurance:
- National Health Insurance (Sécurité Sociale or SHI) – also known as statutory or public health insurance.
- Supplemental Health Insurance (Complémentaire Santé or Mutuelle) – which helps cover costs not reimbursed by SHI.
Here’s a quick overview of how to get health insurance in France:
- Before moving: Get expat health insurance (recommended) or travel insurance (if short-term).
- At 3 months: Apply for public health insurance (Assurance Maladie), but expect delays.
- While waiting for public coverage: Keep expat insurance so you’re covered.
- After getting public coverage: Get a Mutuelle for better coverage.
Now, let’s dive into how French healthcare and health insurance works.
Why is health insurance compulsory in France?
Health insurance is mandatory in France to ensure universal healthcare.
The goal is for everyone to access healthcare, regardless of income or health status. This system is designed to create fairness and prevent people from being excluded from medical care due to financial problems.
Where to get health insurance in France?
In France, you can get health insurance from public and private health insurance companies.
If you meet the requirements for public health insurance (we’ll dive into those later in the post), you’ll need to register with the French social security system (CPAM) and obtain a “Carte Vitale,” which grants access to state-funded healthcare.
If you meet the requirements for private health insurance (which we will also explain), you’ll need to choose a private “Mutuelle” or complementary health insurance plan to cover costs not reimbursed by the public system.
Finally, if you don’t meet the requirements yet, you’ll need expat or travel insurance, which you can get from Feather.
How does the French healthcare system work?
France’s healthcare system combines public and private services, ensuring broad access to medical care.
It ranks 14th in global healthcare efficiency and offers state-funded and private healthcare options.
Public healthcare: l’Assurance Maladie
The public healthcare system, known as l’Assurance Maladie, is funded through taxes (roughly 6.5% of your taxable income), employer contributions, and government subsidies.
It covers many medical expenses, typically reimbursing 70% to 100% of costs.
Patients pay upfront for consultations and treatments but receive reimbursements afterward.
Expats who have lived in France for at least 3 months can access public healthcare through Protection Universelle Maladie (PUMA).
However, full enrollment typically takes another 3 to 6 months, making the total wait time about nine months from your arrival date.
While the system is high-quality, challenges like doctor shortages, hospital overcrowding, and long wait times have emerged.
Private healthcare: La Mutuelle
Private healthcare in France offers faster service and more personalized care.
Many private hospitals and clinics provide both state-funded treatments and private services. People often choose private care to avoid wait times or to see top specialists.
To cover costs that the public system does not fully reimburse—such as specialist visits, dental care, and private hospital stays—many residents buy a Mutuelle, a supplemental health insurance policy.
Although not required, 96% of the population has one.
However, private insurance is only available to those already enrolled in the public system. New arrivals typically cannot get one during their first three to nine months in France.
Can expats access healthcare in France?
Expats in France can access healthcare through both public and private systems.
To use the public system, expats need a Carte Vitale, which proves their registration with French social security (Sécurité Sociale).
This card allows for automatic reimbursement of medical expenses.
For private healthcare, expats need a Carte Mutuelle issued by a supplementary health insurance provider (Mutuelle).
It helps cover costs the public system does not fully reimburse, such as co-pays, hospital stays, dental care, and vision expenses.
When used alongside the Carte Vitale, it minimizes or eliminates extra costs.
What if you don’t have either?
If you have yet to receive these cards—either because you’ve lived in France for less than three months, are still waiting for approval, or have not yet moved—you’ll need expat health insurance (AKA international health insurance).
This type of insurance provides full coverage while waiting to enter the French healthcare system or applying for a visa.
Policies from providers like Feather offer access to private healthcare, fewer restrictions on hospitals and specialists, and full coverage for private treatments.
How does expat health insurance work?
- Covers medical expenses in private and public facilities
- Often reimburses 100% of costs rather than a set percentage
- Includes additional services like medical evacuation and English-speaking support
- Meets visa requirements for healthcare coverage
- Useful for expats who travel frequently and need seamless coverage across Europe
- Plus, you can cancel anytime and keep it until you enter the public or private systems.
For those seeking more flexibility, faster access to care, and a visa-compliant policy, check out our expat health insurance policy.
Public vs. private vs. expat health insurance in France
| Expat health insurance | Public health insurance | Private health insurance | |
| Coverage in France | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ |
| Coverage in other EU countries | ✅ | ❌Only with an EHIC card | ❌Only with an EHIC card |
| When are you eligible | ✅Anytime, even before moving | ❌Minimum 3 months in France | ❌Must have public health insurance |
| Visa compliant | ✅ | ❌ | ❌ |
| Cost | €72 per month | Paid for by your taxes (6.5% of your taxable income) | €30 to €200 per month |
How to get health insurance in France
Step 1: Move to France
Before you even land in France, you need some kind of health coverage.
Your options depend on how long you’re staying:
- Short-term visits: Get travel insurance for basic medical needs.
- Moving to France long-term: Get expat health insurance (more comprehensive).
Even if you plan to apply for public health insurance (i.e., obtaining your carte vitale), you won’t be eligible immediately. You need at least three months of residency first.
Step 2: Apply for your Carte Vitale after 3 months
Once you’ve been in France for at least three months, you can apply for public health insurance (Assurance Maladie).
This is how you’ll get your Carte Vitale, the essential green card that proves you’re covered and lets you get reimbursed for medical treatments.
Here’s how to apply:
- Gather proof of residency – You need documents proving you’ve lived in France for three months (e.g., electricity bill, rental contract, or official residency certificate).
- Contact CPAM (Caisse Primaire d’Assurance Maladie) – They handle health insurance enrollments.
- Call 3646 (if in France) or +33 184 90 36 46 (if abroad).
- Book a phone appointment via the Ameli website.
You’re technically eligible after three months, but French bureaucracy moves at its own pace. Receiving your Carte Vitale can take 6 to 9 months (sometimes more).
Step 3: Stay covered until your Carte Vitale arrives
This is where a lot of people get caught off guard.
- You’ve applied for public health insurance, but processing will take a while.
- In the meantime, if you get sick or have an accident, you’re on the hook for the full cost of medical care unless you have insurance.
We recommend keeping your expat health insurance (or getting one now if you didn’t before). This ensures you’re covered while waiting for your Carte Vitale.
Some people try to “wing it” without coverage during this period—a bad idea.
If you need emergency care, hospital bills can add up fast, and delaying treatment over costs is risky.
Step 4: Cancel your expat insurance
You’ve finally received your carte vitale…
Congrats!
Now that you’re officially covered by public health insurance, you no longer need your expat insurance.
Contact your expat insurer and cancel your policy ASAP to stop unnecessary payments.
Since you don’t know exactly how long it’ll take to get your carte vitale, choose an expat insurance plan you can cancel anytime.
Feather offers flexible policies that let you cancel, no questions asked, as soon as you’re covered by the French system.
Step 5: Get a Mutuelle for full coverage
Your carte vitale is a great first step in obtaining healthcare coverage in France. But it doesn’t cover everything:
- Public insurance only reimburses some medical costs (e.g., ~70% of doctor visits and ~80% of hospital stays).
- You still have to pay the rest out of pocket – unless you have a Mutuelle (a private supplementary health plan).
Unlike the carte vitale, which can take months to process, signing up for a Mutuelle takes about 1-2 weeks on average.
How to get a Mutuelle for employees
If you’re employed in France, your company is legally required to provide a Mutuelle.
This company-provided plan must meet the minimum coverage standards of labor agreements (convention collective).
You do not get to choose your Mutuelle or its coverage—your employer selects it for you, and you are automatically enrolled.
What if you want better coverage? Sign up for a “surcomplementaire.”
Because employees don’t get to pick their Mutuelle, many employees choose to purchase an extra layer of insurance called sur-complémentaire santé.
This covers additional expenses, mainly dental and vision care, which public insurance and basic Mutuelles don’t fully reimburse.
If you’re interested in maximizing your benefits and coverage, we advise that you shop around for a sur-complémentaire.
How to get a Mutuelle for non-employees
If you’re self-employed, retired, or otherwise not salaried, you aren’t forced into a specific Mutuelle.
Instead, you can shop and choose the best fit for your needs.
Because of this flexibility, it doesn’t make sense for non-employees to get both a basic Mutuelle and a sur-complémentaire.
Instead, they should choose a high-quality Mutuelle with strong coverage for dental and vision.
A brief history of the French healthcare system
Healthcare in medieval France
The French healthcare system has its origins in the Middle Ages. During this time, religious institutions established charitable hospitals known as hôtel-Dieu to care for the poor and sick. These early hospitals were funded by donations and managed by the Church.
Foundations of health insurance
By the late 19th century, industrialization brought new social challenges, prompting the first formal health insurance efforts. In 1898, France passed its first workplace accident insurance law, requiring employers to compensate injured workers.
This was followed in 1930 by the assurances sociales, which provided health coverage for low-income workers in specific industries.
These early programs laid the groundwork for a more comprehensive system.
Post-war transformation
After World War II, France established its modern healthcare system in 1945 by creating Sécurité sociale.
This universal social security program aimed to provide healthcare access to all workers and their families. Based on solidarity and universal coverage, it introduced mandatory contributions from employers and employees, ensuring access to essential medical services.
Expanding coverage for all
Initially, Sécurité sociale mainly covered salaried workers. Over time, it expanded:
- 1961 – Farmers were included.
- 1978 – The self-employed gained coverage.
- 2000 – Couverture Maladie Universelle (CMU) was introduced, guaranteeing healthcare access to all legal residents, regardless of employment status.
Frequently Asked Questions: French healthcare system
How do you get a doctor’s appointment in France?
In France, you can schedule a doctor’s appointment by calling, visiting the practice, or using online platforms.
Many doctors also offer direct booking on their websites.
While you are free to choose any general practitioner (médecin traitant or GP), it’s recommended that you register with one for better reimbursements from health insurance.
If you haven’t chosen a GP, you can search for one using the Ameli directory or platforms like Doctolib.
Does health insurance cover giving birth in France?
The French healthcare system covers pregnancy-related care through Assurance Maladie.
This includes:
- Prenatal checkups (E.g., ultrasounds and lab tests)
- Childbirth
- Postnatal care (E.g. follow-up consultations, midwife visits, and recovery treatments)
All maternity-related costs are fully covered from the sixth month of pregnancy until 12 days after birth.
However, choosing a private clinic or certain specialists may incur additional fees.
A supplemental insurance plan (mutuelle) can help with extra benefits, such as private hospital rooms and extended postnatal care.
Does French health insurance cover medication?
French health insurance reimburses medication costs at different rates (15%, 30%, 65%, or 100%) depending on necessity.
Essential medicines, like those for chronic conditions, receive higher reimbursements.
Even when covered, a small copayment may be required unless you have a mutuelle.
Non-prescription medications are generally not reimbursed.
Does the French healthcare system cover hospitalization?
If admitted to a public hospital or a contracted private clinic, Assurance Maladie covers 80% of the costs.
Patients must pay the remaining 20% unless they have a mutuelle.
Additional expenses include a daily hospital fee (€20 per day) and extra charges for private rooms or specialized treatments.
A mutuelle can help cover these costs, including extended hospitalization and non-medical services like TV and internet.
Should you get supplementary coverage?
In most cases, yes. If you have frequent medical needs or can’t afford unexpected medical bills, a mutuelle can help cover additional costs.
For example:
- Dental and optical care are only partially reimbursed by Assurance Maladie, making supplemental insurance valuable.
- The public system often does not fully cover physiotherapy and alternative treatments (e.g., osteopathy).
- If you expect hospital stays, a mutuelle can cover the remaining 20% of costs and daily fees.
Is healthcare expensive in France?
Healthcare in France is relatively affordable due to the public reimbursement system.
Residents contribute to Assurance Maladie through payroll deductions or direct payments.
While many services are covered, there are some costs, such as a €1 copayment per consultation, extra fees for specialists, and partial coverage for certain medications.
A mutuelle reduces these expenses.
Costs vary based on age, coverage level, and provider, typically ranging from €30 to €200 per month.
Low-income individuals may qualify for government-subsidized insurance (Complémentaire Santé Solidaire).
How can I change my insurance company?
Switching a mutuelle can be simple.
Since 2020, you can cancel your policy anytime after one year without penalties. When changing providers, the new insurer usually handles the cancellation.
However, if your mutuelle is provided by your employer, you can only switch if you change jobs or your situation changes (e.g., retirement).
