French healthcare glossary

Avis ponctuel

A one-off opinion from a specialist

Ameli

Assurance maladie en ligne, the website for the network of Cpams. You are asked to put in your postcode so as to tailor the information to your area

Attestation de droits

Certificate proving the right to French state health insurance

Caisse

The body dealing with your state reimbursements; usually Cpam but may be another body if you are self-employed in certain sectors such as agriculture

Carte Vitale

A health card that carries your social security data. For use when visiting health workers and pharmacies

Complémentaire santé solidaire (CSS)

Top-up insurance provided free by the state for people on low-incomes

Cotisation subsidiaire maladie 

An annual payment into the state healthcare system for economically inactive residents with means over a certain level

Cpam

Caisse primaire d’assurance maladie: your local state health insurance body

Dépassements d’honoraires

That part of fees charged by sector 2 doctors that goes above the state-fixed tariff

Feuilles de soins

Reimbursement claims forms, now not usually used where doctors accept the carte Vitale

Franchises

Levies taken off medicine reimbursements to help fund the health service

Hors parcours

Health treatment sought away from, or without referral from your médecin traitant

Médecin traitant

Your personal GP

Médecine de ville

Treatment outside a hospital, eg. seeing a doctor at their surgery

Médecin correspondant

A doctor you are referred to by your médecin traitant

Mutuelle

A top-up health insurance policy to refund the part of costs not repaid by the state system. Technically only policies offered by non-profit-making organisations come under this term, but it is widely used for top-up policies in general. An alternative general term is une complémentaire santé

Ordonnance

Prescription

Participation forfaitaire

A €1 charge paid on a visit to the doctor, prescriptions and other medical acts to fund research

Protection universelle maladie (Puma)

The principle by which anyone legally-resident in France longterm may qualify for healthcare cover under the French system

Remboursement

The refund paid by the state

Suivi régulier

Referral to a doctor you will see regularly

Sécurité sociale

A general term for several services for French residents, including state healthcare and pensions, but especially associated with health. French people often refer to a reimbursement from la Sécu. The healthcare branch is called l’Assurance Maladie

Tarif de convention

The agreed level of cost of a medical act of which the state refunds a percentage

Ticket modérateur

The part of the tarif de convention that is not state-reimbursed