France offers free medical checks for over 65s and vulnerable patients

Many people in high-risk groups for Covid-19 are still self-isolating on government advice and have found accessing doctor's appointments difficult - particularly people not able to use technology like zoom for virtual appointments.

That means that many people have missed regular appointments to discuss ongoing medication or treatment, and some people have felt reluctant to access medical services for non-urgent problems.

French health authorities have been concerned for some time about a 'backlog' of cases which were not treated during the lockdown, and of people whose long-term conditions may have worsened without regular medical appointments.

Now anyone who not been in contact with their doctor since March 17th and who is in a high-risk group is offered a full medical - a consultation longue - which is reimbursed 100 percent on State health insurance, rather than the usual reimbursement rate of around 80 percent.

People eligible are;

• People aged 65 of over
• Pregnant women in their third trimester
• People with a BMI of 30 or over
• Diabetics
• People with high blood pressure or heart disease
• People with chronic respiratory diseases including asthma
• People with chronic liver or kidney diseases
• People with a lowered immune system including chemotherapy patients
• People with a major sickle cell illness or anyone who has had a splenectomy

Appointments must be made before June 30th with your usual doctor.