Working out what your carte vitale entitles you to within the French health service can be a complicated business.
After taking a look at what you can claim back from the French state with your carte vitale if you have the basic cover afforded by the card, with no top-up insurance, in terms of general healthcare, and how much dental and eye appointments will cost you, this time we're focusing on the more unusual treatments you have access to under the French health system.
Here are a few of them.
READ ALSO:
- Carte vitale: What your French health insurance card entitles you to
- How to get a carte vitale in France and why you need one
- Carte vitale: How much will dental and eye care appointments cost me?
Photo: AFP
Spa treatments
Yes, you read that correctly... but of course the catch is that you need to have a prescription from a doctor stating that you need a cure thermal (in French) for medical reasons.
You'll also need to request your reimbursement before having your treatment to find out how much the French State is willing to reimburse you for it and naturally the reimbursement varies according to your resources and the condition you are treating.
To be reimbursed, you must be suffering from a condition that falls into one of 12 categories listed by the health service, which includes things such as digestive disorders, skin conditions, gynecological issues and rheumatism.
So it might not be that easy to get your hands on a free massage, after all.
Condoms
The French government announced back in November that it would take the rare step of reimbursing prescription-bought condoms to combat the spread of HIV and other sexually transmitted diseases.
This measure, which covers French-made Eden condoms obtained on prescription from a doctor or midwife, is yet to come into effect but is expected to do so soon.
The idea would be that the State covers 60 percent of the cost of the condoms, hoping that top-up health insurance providers would cover the remainder.
Photo: AFP
Produced by Majorelle laboratories and sold only in pharmacies, Eden condoms cost a fraction of leading brands such as Durex or Manix at €2.60 euros for a box of 12.
They are the first to be approved for reimbursement by France's national health authority, one of the few in Europe to do so.
Agnes Buzyn, the health minister who is a trained doctor, sounded the alarm over the risk of HIV transmission among condom-averse young people.
Around 6,000 new cases of HIV infection were diagnosed in 2016 - down five percent since 2013 - taking the number of people living with the virus in France to over 172,000.
Currently condoms are available for free in Family Planning Centres. Find your nearest here.
Nicotine substitutes
There's also some good news for any smokers who want to quit out there.
Since January 1st 2019, French health insurance has reimbursed nicotine substitutes, such as lozenges and patches, by 65 percent. Previously it was subject to a €150 cap but that is no longer the case.
You can consult the full list of nicotine substitutes reimbursed by the French health service, including Nicorette, here.
Studies have shown that nicotine substitutes are very effective in helping you stop smoking, increasing your chances of quitting from 50 percent to 70 percent, according to the French health insurance site Ameli,fr.
Photo: AFP
Homeopathy
Homeopathic medicine is a big part of French life.
All pharmacies sell homeopathic products, and the pharmacists can generally always advise on alternative treatments.
However this could all be about to change.
While the French health service currently reimburses 30 percent of the cost of homeopathic medicines, a report by health authority La Haute Autorité de Santé (HAS) released a report last week stating that this policy should be scrapped.
This is down to the fact that it provides an “insufficient medical service”, according to the health authority based on a study of 1,200 homeopathic medicines.
Breast implant removal
There have been a number of cases of incidents involving breast implants filled with silicone gel made by the company Poly Implant Prothèse and in some cases the French health service will reimburse the cost of the complications.
This is usually for cases in which the implant has ruptured.
In France, around 30,000 women have had this kind of breast implant, both as reconstructive surgery after suffering illnesses such as breast cancer, for example, as well as for cosmetic surgery.
The French health service may cover a certain amount of the cost whatever the initial reason for the surgery.
If you have this kind of implant, the health service recommends discussing your options with your doctor.
For the full information on all of these treatments and other issues concerning French healthcare, visit Ameli.fr.
Comments