Sécu health system is 70 years old

THE FRENCH social security system – la Sécu – is 70 years old this month, an anniversary which has been marked with the issue of a commemorative stamp. It comes as the Connexion today publishes a new helpguide explaining the French healthcare system for residents.

The anniversary stamp features two men who played essential roles in launching France’s lifelong social security system, which includes health, pension, family allowance etc. They are Pierre Laroque, known as the father of the Sécu, who planned the project and Ambroise Croisat, who was the minister who piloted through the key laws to put it in place.

Our new Connexion helpguide includes essential information you need to know to use Healthcare in France, whether you are planning a move here, have recently arrived, or have been in the country for some time but want an in-depth overview.

Topics include how different groups can access healthcare (whether workers, retirees, early retirees, foreign students...), finding a doctor and getting a Carte Vitale and how payment and reimbursement works, as well as reforms going through parliament intended to exempt most people from making any upfront payments at all. The guide also explains how this is already in place for those with low incomes who can access the CMU-C or ACS.

The 30-page guide also has plenty of other facts about accessing different kinds of care, such as glasses, hearing aids, dental work, pregnancy care or cancer screening.

We also look at healthcare outside France for French residents, including, for Britons, having treatment while visiting the UK.

To order a copy (€7.50+p&p) call 06 40 61 71 97 or for a PDF download visit Helpguides