Moving abroad is a tricky proposition from all angles, but healthcare is one of the main worries people state when they are considering making an intercontinental move. If you’re moving from the USA to France, you might be wondering about the quality of healthcare available, how to sign up to the healthcare system there, and … Read more

France’s social healthcare system, l’assurance maladie, is fairly comprehensive and covers almost everyone. However, expats may still decide to take out private health insurance in France for a number of reasons. Registering with the French health insurance system requires a three-month wait after arriving in the country, followed by up to another three months of … Read more

France offers healthcare for everyone living in the country, whether you are an expat on a short-term assignment or a life-long citizen. However, in order to reap the benefits of the health system, you will need to register first. L’assurance maladie is the term for the main French healthcare system, and it covers almost all … Read more

The topic of euthanasia is one that has long divided opinions. However, due to current happenings in France, the conversation surrounding the right to die debate has been reignited.This has come about due to the high-profile case of Vincent Lambert, a 42-year-old former nurse who was hospitalised in 2008 after suffering severe brain damage from … Read more

The Carte Vitale is the national French health insurance card. Expats who qualify to register with the service benefit from having around 60 to 70 percent of their medical costs, including appointments, scans and prescriptions, covered by the state.Here’s everything you need to know about this very useful – although sometimes elusive – green and … Read more

Under the S1 agreement, the UK will pick up the healthcare bill for British expats in member states while other European Union countries will pay for the healthcare of their citizens in the UK. The S1 is a certificate for health insurance cover for those EU citizens moving to another member state and runs alongside … Read more

Overview The French health system is rated one of the best in Europe. The state controls health expenditures funded by statutory health contributions. Statutory health insurance (SHI) is mainly financed by employer and employee taxes, but also taxes from tobacco and alcohol, health insurance companies and the pharmaceutical industry. Public health care is available to … Read more

A popular expat magnet, France has an excellent and robust healthcare system, with its wide network of public as well as private facilities and staff. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), this country’s universal healthcare is among the best across Europe, as well as worldwide. This is only expected, since the government spends a … Read more

No one wants to be poorly and have to visit a doctor or hospital but expats living and working in France at least have access some of the best healthcare in the world. That’s the verdict from the World Health Organisation, which puts the French healthcare offering at first place. However, one reason why the … Read more

The French paradox, formulated by French epidemiologists, is the observation that despite the high intake of dietary cholesterol and saturated fat, the French population still displays a low incidence of coronary heart disease. This could mean either of two things; one, that the link between saturated fats to coronary heart disease is not entirely valid, … Read more

Overall life expectancy at birth in France is 81.7 years and health is of an exceptionally high standard. In many ways, it excels and overtakes healthcare in countries such as the UK, with better access to new drugs, less hospital infections and pioneering research. However, that said, there is a lot to be said for … Read more

by Anne Poulton A relatively new website for ex-patriates called “Counselling in France” can be accessed at www.counsellinginfrance.com. The site aims to put English speakers living in France in touch with English speaking counsellors and is the only service of its kind in France. The French authorities do not recognise the word ‘counsellor’ unless it’s … Read more