Moving abroad can be a bit of a maze with so many new systems to navigate as part of everyday life.
Once you arrive in France, one of the first things you should do is register with the French healthcare system.
In doing so, you’re likely to encounter many new and unknown terms and phrases, so we’ve gathered some of the most common to help explain exactly what they mean.
Avis Ponctuelle
A one-off opinion from an expert.
Amelie
‘insurance for illness‘, Cpams Network website. You will be asked to enter your postal code in order to tailor the information to your location.
Attestation of droits
A certificate certifying entitlement to French government health insurance.
Case
The agency that handles refunds for your state. Usually Cpam, but it could be another entity if you are self-employed in other sectors such as agriculture.
Carte Vitale
A health card that carries your Social Security data. Use when visiting a healthcare professional or pharmacy.
Complementaire Sante Solitaire (CSS)
Additional insurance provided free of charge by the state for low-income earners.
Cotisation Subsidiaire Maladie
An annual payment to the state health care system for economically inactive residents above a certain level of means.
Cpam
Diseases of the Caisse primaire d’assuranceyour local state health insurance agency.
depasman donolaire
The portion of fees charged by Sector 2 physicians that exceeds the state fixed fee.
Fille de Soin
Reimbursement forms are generally not used where doctors accept chart vitales.
franchise
Taxation removed from drug reimbursements to help fund health care services.
eau de parkour
health treatment sought by you or without a referral from you meterseTraitor of Deshin.
Traitor of Medcin
your personal GP.
Medicine de Ville
out-of-hospital treatment, e.g. See a doctor at their surgery.
Medsan correspondent
the doctor you refer Medosan Treitant.
Muchuel
Additional health insurance policies to reimburse some of the costs not reimbursed by the state system. Technically, only policies provided by non-profit organizations fall under this term, but it is commonly used broadly for top-up policies. Another common term is: une complémentaire santé.
Order Prescription Participation Forfeiter
€1 is paid for medical procedures to provide doctor’s visits, prescriptions and other research funding.
Protection Universelle Maladie (Puma)
The principle that anyone with long-term legal residency in France may qualify for medical insurance under the French system.
redemption
Refunds paid by the state.
Suivy Regurier
Refer them to your regular doctor.
Security Sophisticate
Collective name for several services for residents of France, including national health care and pensions, but particularly related to health. the French are La sec. called the health care sector Rasurance Maladi.
treaty tariff
An agreed-upon level of the cost of medical care for which the state reimburses a percentage.
ticket moderator
part of Agreement tariff It is not covered by the state.
Related article
How to find a doctor who speaks good English in France
Explainer: Paying to see a doctor or health professional in France
How to get a social security number and carte Vitale in France
