Im american visiting france can i use their free health care system?

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Eclipsepearl

Yes you can use the health care system. No, it's not free for everyone.

Call your U.S. insurers and find out what they require as far as documentation. Ask for someone who handles foreign claims.

French doctors and hospitals will try to give you a "feuille des soins", in which the care is coded. The U.S. insurers don't have the codes so they will probably reject your claim if you send it in. Some insurerers accept if you write it in yourself, on this form. My insurer didn't. They wanted the doctor's or hospital's stationary and written out what was treated.

As a tip, keep it simple. Don't let them add a bunch of stuff on the receipt. Stand there when they do it.

It's brown and white and this is what the feuille des soins looks like;
http://eu.fotolia.com/id/9821289

Ask specifically if the documents have to be in English. They shouldn't.

Health care costs are much less in France so usually they'll pay if they know what they're paying for!

Repatriation is another whole issue you may want to explore. If you wish for further services, you may need to buy extra insurance.

I wont even address the issue of IF you have insurance in the U.S...

Remember, only necessary and emergency care will be covered. If you break your leg, you'll be fine. You may have to make a trip to the ATM but you'll eventually get your money back, after you get home.

AndreasD72

Of course, also American can use the french health care system, even for non-residents and non-citizens it is NOT FREE. Having a sudden heart attack or having an accident they will healp you, of course, and bring you to a hospital, if needed. But before leaving they will present you a bill to be paid cash. Some clinics also accept credit cards and private insurance cards.

Some years before I was in the Red-Cross-Hospital in Paris. After 3 days I had to pay some thousands Francs. In meanwhile they also would accept my european health insureance card. So today I may leave the hospital without paying cash.

lostandconfused

You can go to the doctor or a hospital and you will be treated, but you will have to pay. Of course, a visit to a doctor here in France costs only 21 euros, so even full price is way cheaper than in the States.

xakilegnasp

If you mean see a doctor because you are ill or have a problem, yes you can, but it won't be free. You can see a doctor in any country you are visiting. I don't know where you got the idea that the health care system in France is free. We pay high taxes in France so when we are sick or unable to work or even out of a job we don't have to worry. The taxes include a health insurance and even then we sometimes have to pay a small co-payment. As a foreigner just visiting you are not entitled to free health care.

Tyler

if you're riding a bike and fall down and break your leg, yes, they'll take you--

but if you just walk in wanting some medicine for an existing problem(or something like that), i don't think they'll help you

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