France's healthcare is consistently ranked among the world's best — affordable, accessible, and high quality. But it operates on a structured system that foreign newcomers often navigate backwards: seeing a specialist directly, skipping registration with a GP, or missing out on reimbursements because the paperwork wasn't in order.

Getting the system to work for you starts with understanding it. And understanding it starts with the vocabulary.

The Système de Santé

Assurance maladie — health insurance, provided by the state. The main body is l'Assurance Maladie, sometimes called la Sécu (short for Sécurité sociale). It covers a significant portion of most medical costs.

Carte Vitale — the green electronic health card that identifies you as a member of the French health system and carries your health history and entitlements. Without it, you either pay upfront and claim reimbursement, or use a attestation de droits as a temporary substitute. Getting your Carte Vitale set up early saves friction at every subsequent appointment.

Numéro de sécurité sociale — your social security number. Assigned when you register with l'Assurance Maladie. The identifier behind your Carte Vitale.

CPAM — Caisse Primaire d'Assurance Maladie. The local branch of the health insurance system. This is where you register, manage your rights, and handle reimbursement questions.

Complémentaire santé / Mutuelle — supplementary health insurance. France's state insurance covers 70% of most costs; a mutuelle covers the remaining "ticket modérateur" (co-payment). Most French employees receive this through their employer; freelancers and self-employed people arrange it privately. Without a mutuelle, you pay the gap yourself.

The Médecin Traitant

Médecin traitant — your chosen GP (general practitioner). The cornerstone of the French healthcare system. You declare one doctor as your médecin traitant by completing a form with them; this declaration is registered with your CPAM.

Why this matters: seeing your médecin traitant first (or getting a referral from them) gives you the highest reimbursement rate. Seeing a specialist without going through your médecin traitant (called hors parcours de soins) means your reimbursement is reduced. France has built financial incentives into the system to ensure everyone follows the referral chain.

Médecin généraliste — general practitioner. Another term for your médecin traitant.

Consultation — a standard GP appointment.

Visite à domicile — a home visit. Still exists in France, particularly for elderly patients or those who cannot travel. Arrange through your médecin traitant or via SOS Médecins (an on-call home visit service).

Téléconsultation — a video consultation. Covered by insurance in the same way as in-person visits for patients registered with a médecin traitant.

SOS Médecins — an on-call medical service available in most cities, providing urgent consultations when your médecin traitant is unavailable and the situation doesn't warrant the urgences.

At the Appointment

Ordonnance — prescription. Your doctor writes one on a standardised form; you take it to any pharmacie for the medication.

Médicament remboursé — a reimbursed medication. Medications in France are rated for reimbursement: 100% for essential treatments, 65%, 30%, or 15% for others. Some medications are not reimbursed at all (non remboursé).

Vignette — the adhesive label on medication packaging that used to be peeled off and stuck to reimbursement forms. Now replaced by electronic processing via your Carte Vitale.

Feuille de soins — a healthcare claim form. If you didn't have your Carte Vitale, or saw a doctor who doesn't use electronic billing, you fill in this form and submit it to the CPAM for reimbursement.

Dépassement d'honoraires — the amount a doctor charges above the standard fee set by the health insurance system. Common among specialists. There are three categories of doctors: Secteur 1 (charges standard rates, fully reimbursable), Secteur 2 (can charge above standard rates, partially reimbursable), and Secteur 3 (non-conventional, least reimbursement). Know which sector your doctor is in before the appointment.

Arrêt de travail — sick leave note. Your doctor issues this if you are medically unfit to work. It must be sent to your employer within 48 hours and also to your CPAM within 48 hours. Failure to send it on time can result in reduced benefit payments.

Describing Symptoms

J'ai mal à... — I have pain in... (+ the part of the body)

J'ai de la fièvre — I have a fever.

Je me sens fatigué(e) — I feel tired.

J'ai des vertiges — I feel dizzy.

J'ai du mal à respirer — I'm having difficulty breathing.

Depuis combien de temps? — For how long? Have your timeframe ready.

Est-ce que vous prenez des médicaments? — Do you take any medications?

Avez-vous des allergies? — Do you have any allergies?

Emergencies

SAMU — Service d'Aide Médicale Urgente. Call 15 for medical emergencies. They dispatch ambulances and coordinate emergency care.

Urgences — the emergency department at a hospital. Use only for genuine emergencies; French urgences face significant pressure and non-urgent cases wait a very long time.

15 — the medical emergency number in France. (112 also works and connects to emergency services across the EU.)

The French healthcare system rewards people who use the structure it provides. Declare a médecin traitant, get your Carte Vitale, understand the referral chain — and build the vocabulary before you need it. Your health is too important to navigate in a language you're not prepared for.

Healthcare in France is excellent — if you know how to use it. Vokabulo helps you prepare for the vocabulary before you're sitting in the waiting room. Available on iPhone and iPad.