How do I change who my GP is?

I live in France and would like to change my médécin traitant – how do I do this please? Do I need to give a reason? Basically I’ve moved a few kilometres away and could still see him but never found him sympathetic etc so am happy to change. P.P. Limousin

YOU CAN change your médecin traitant when you wish without too much bureaucracy.

Anyone over 16 in the Assurance Maladie should name a médecin traitant as they benefit from better rebates on treatments. Going to a doctor other than your médecin traitant means you will pay more for treatment.

However, you can go to a new doctor and get him to sign the Cerfa n°12485*01 form and send it to the Caisse d’Assurance Maladie and then you still benefit from the reduced charges.

Your old doctor is not informed of the change, but can find out if he checks his list of subscribers.

If you want your medical files to be sent to your new doctor, write the old one saying you have changed to a new médecin traitant – you do not need to say why – and include a stamped A4 envelope addressed to yourself.