The French government supports healthcare in Paris for all French residents and pays for 75% of healthcare needs in most cases. If you or your spouse are employed and have insurance through your place of employment, then you can expect to pay next to nothing for your doctor's visit as well, as co-pays and deductibles tend to be very low, if at all.

If your health concern requires a visit to the hospital, then check out the American Hospital of Paris, which is located on the western periphery of Paris. The hospital is only accessible by bus, as the Metro does not run into the district.

Within the hospital are English-speaking doctors that specialize in nearly every discipline, from inner ear, to sports therapy and muscular issues. The biggest complaint about the hospital is that the wait time is very long, so call ahead for an appointment if at all possible.

If you feel comfortable speaking in French with your doctors, then visit the Hospital de la Pitie Salpetriere, which is located in Paris's city-proper. Salpetriere is known around the world for providing exception medical care for patients of international origin. Salpetriere is also the place of Princess Diana's notorious death in 1997 and the hospital to which Yasser Arafat traveled for treatment in 2005.

If you're in search of a French-speaking specialist or general practitioner, the hospitals are always ideal places to start your search. For English speaking doctors, contact the offices at WICE. WICE holds a notebook that lists English-speaking caregivers and organizations around Paris. You can visit the office at 20 Boulevard Montparnasse, email or call the organization with your query.

English speakers can also pick up a copy of the Bloom Book in any bookstore. The Bloom Book is a directory of English-speaking organizations, stores and service providers for the region in and around Paris.

Pharmacists in Paris are also very helpful with recommending treatments for more common ailments. While they can't prescribe medicine, pharmacists can offer advice and over-the-counter solutions for treatment. Each pharmacy in Paris is denoted with a neon green sign that protrudes from the building.

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