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How France is preparing for the age of longer lifespans
The Connexion visits the Genii Longevity conference in Geneva to talk to experts on new technologies, lifestyle changes, and future medicines
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Longevity in France? We have an app for that
FriLi will help with chronic pain and a health monitoring
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‘Living in France is an advantage for longer life’
Best way of ageing slowly is prevention, a healthy lifestyle and seeing your doctor, says longevity expert
Is my operation in a French private clinic reimbursable?
We answer a reader question: Will I be reimbursed if I have an operation in a private clinic in France?

Question:
My doctor has suggested I have an operation in a private clinic – will this be reimbursed by the French social security system? G.F.
Answer:
This depends on whether or not the private clinic has a partnership with the state assurance maladie system. If it does, it is referred to as a clinique privée conventionnée and your hospitalisation costs will be covered on the same basis as if you have the operation in a public hospital.
This is a common arrangement and many French “hospitals” come under this banner. Strictly speaking, the term hôpital refers only to state-run establishments. In this case, the assurance maladie covers 80-100% of basic hospitalisation costs, minus €20/day called the forfait journalier. Where someone is in the clinic for a procedure normally costing €120 or more (un acte lourd), the reimbursement is at 100% minus a set figure of €24.
Apart from the forfait journalier, you may have to pay any dépassements d’honoraires – amounts over and above the usual state tariff – practised by your doctor/s and for any extras you asked for, such as having a private room. Some of these costs may be covered by your mutuelle top-up insurance, if you have one. Check the clinic’s status with your doctor to avoid ending up paying in full.
More reader questions, answered: Can I visit the UK from France for less than 14 days?