Before you leave, it is important that you contact France's national contact point (soinstransfrontaliers@cleiss.fr) to get all the information you need to ensure that your crossborder care goes forward smoothly.
Before you decide to receive healthcare in France
You will need to:
- find out about your entitlement to coverage of cross-border health care
- be aware of the financial implications and the requirements for coverage of your expenses
- check how much of your health care expenses will be out-of-pocket (all of your expenses or the flat-rate charge known as the « ticket modérateur », travel expenses, and the costs of translating your medical files)
- know whether a prior authorization for care is required
- learn from your doctor about the treatment you wish to receive and identify the health care professional or facility you will be contacting
- assess your need for private travel insurance or supplementary health insurance (coverage for expenses in private facilities, medical transport or repatriation, etc.).
Before you travel to France for treatment
You will need to:
- learn about your rights to informed consent
- have your medical file transferred to your chosen health care provider in France and have it translated if necessary
- consider the possible need for an interpreter when you meet with your health care provider
- set up follow-up treatment in your home country to ensure continuity of care.
During your treatment in France
You will need to:
- have your health care provider add your diagnosis, test results, treatment results, list of pharmaceuticals administered, post-op results, etc. to your medical file, either in writing or electronically
- gather and secure all of the documents you will need to submit to the health fund to which you belong to apply for reimbursement.
Following treatment in France
- You are entitled to pay the same fees for health care as those insured in the country in which you receive care.
- You will need to make sure to get prescriptions that are in line with the applicable regulations so that they can be used in your State of residence when you go home.
- You will need to have your medical records transferred once they have been added to by your healthcare provider in France.
Checklist for patients