Are operations in clinics reimbursable?

My doctor has suggested an operation in a private clinic – will this be reimbursed by the social security system?

This depends partly on whether the private clinic/hospital has a partnership with the state Assurance Maladie system. 

If so, 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 (hôpital public).

In this case, the Assurance Maladie covers 80-100% of basic hospitalisation costs upfront, minus €20/day called the forfait journalier. 

You will not have to pay the state-covered costs upfront, and may not have to pay anything if you have a mutuelle with good hospital cover.

If you do not have a mutuelle, when you leave, apart from the forfait journalier and the non-reimbursed 20% of hospitalisation costs, you may also have to pay any dépassements d’honoraires – amounts over usual state tariffs – practised by your doctor/s and for any extras you asked for, such as having a private room.

If you go to a clinic that is totally private - non conventionné - you will have to pay for everything when you leave, however it is usually possible afterwards to obtain a reimbursement from your Cpam at the state rates for the procedures you had. However, such clinics often charge much more.