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About the French National Health system, see Health Insurance. French doctors Practitioners in France are either conventionnés (abiding by the Sécurité Sociale system's schedule of fees) or non conventionnés (charging higher rates). You can always ask a doctor's secretary, before making a first-time appointment, if the doctor is conventionné or not, or if you can consult him at the hospital. Many doctors hold consultations at the hospital with which they are affiliated; rates for these visits are usually less than those held at the doctor's private office. You can choose the doctor you wish to consult without registering with him. There are no restrictions based on, for example, residence criteria. If you feel like braving the language barrier, you will find that any pharmacist is eager and willing to give you names of doctors, nurses and other members of the medical or paramedical profession that practice in the neighbourhood. Pharmacists play an essential intermediary role between doctor and patient. Hospitals There are two private hospitals in the Paris area which offer medical services in English, the American Hospital (Hôpital Américain) and the Hertford British Hospital (Hôpital Franco-Britannique). 
Founded by Americans and accredited in the United States, the American Hospital has a completely bilingual staff and many American doctors. A wide range of specialty areas, such as cardiology, digestive medecine, gastroenterology, endocrinology, neurology, oncology (cancer), ophtalmology, O.R.L. (Ear, Nose and Throat), orthopedics, urology, rheumatology, dentistry, as well as gynecology/obstetrics, and maternity service. There are also general pediatricians, and pediatric specialists (gastro-enterology, neurology, orthopedics, surgery, pneumology, and nutrition) who work with the hospital. The hospital is agréé (registered) but non-conventionné, which means that although their rates are higher than the standard, patients are eligible for Sécurité Sociale reimbursement. American Hospital of Paris
Offers services in general surgery and medicine, plus gynecology/obstetrics, and maternity. Also out-patient services in all departments. There is a large percentage of British trained nurses and midwives, as well as British trained doctors in most departments. It is partially subsidized by the French government and is conventionné. Thus rates are standard, but because it is semi-private, Sécurité Sociale does not pay the hospital directly. You will be asked to pay the bill and will later be re-imbursed when you put in your claim. Hertford British Hospital Alternative medicine This is known in France as les médecines douces. France is the
world leader in homeopathy. Both acupuncture and homeopathy are recognized
by French Social Security and thus are reimbursed under applicable rules.
But most homeopathic doctors charge honoraires libres, i.e. fees that
are above the recommended Social Security physician's fees. You will
only be reimbursed on the basis of the Social Security fees and the
overriding cost is almost never reimbursed by independent health insurance
(Mutuelle). There are homeopathic doctors who charge set fees. Word-of-mouth
is the best way to find them. Osteopathy, although more and more popular,
is still not recognized. |
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