The official website Ameli.fr is the reference platform for the French health insurance system. You can find a list of healthcare professionals near you, classified by specialisation and including their contact details. This website also lets you check the level of service fees applied by a doctor, i.e. whether they charge the rates set by the social security system.
Your Health Off Campus
Off campus, use Ameli.fr or Doctolib to find a doctor or specialist. Find out about the various service fee levels to optimise your reimbursements. Remember to show your Carte Vitale or proof of insurance and keep your prescriptions. Keep emergency numbers to hand to ensure you have a safe and enjoyable stay.
Understanding sector-level service fees
In France, doctors can charge different levels of service fees based on their “sector”.
Sector 1: corresponds to the rates set by the social security system and provides the highest level of reimbursement.
Sectors 2 and 3: correspond to unrestricted or partially unrestricted fees, which are therefore more expensive and less well reimbursed, even if you have a health insurance policy (mutuelle).
Finding an English-speaking doctor
There is no official list of English-speaking doctors. However, there are a number of resources you may find useful:
The Australian Embassy website in France offers a list of English-speaking practitioners.
The Doctolib platform allows you to filter doctors who have indicated that they speak English in their profile.
Practical advice:
Bring your Carte Vitale or proof of health coverage with you to the consultation.
If you have a health insurance policy (mutuelle), find out how much it reimburses, especially if the practitioner you are seeing belongs to sector 2 or 3.
