Are there English-language health helplines in France?
The CPAM state healthcare refunds service offers an English-speaking number
Plenty of phone help is at hand in English for people who live in France
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Reader question: Is there an English-speaking health helpline for foreign people in France? I am an American with a carte de séjour living in France.
The good news is that, yes, there is an English-speaking helpline, offered by the French CPAM (state health insurance bodies) network.
You can call this from France on 09 74 75 36 46 (or from abroad by dialling 0033 and taking off the first 0). It is available Monday to Friday, 8:30 to 5:00.
A number of questions about healthcare have also been answered by the CPAM team in their forums online and on a website section which can be found with a web search for ‘Ameli English pages’.
Other than the CPAM helpline, there is a range of other sources of telephone help in France for English-speakers.
For mental and emotional health support, a helpline is provided from 15:00 to 23:00 by English-speaking charity SOS Help, on 01 46 21 46 46.
Telecoms and internet company Orange also has an English-speaking line on 09 69 36 39 00 from Monday to Friday (9:00 to 17:00), which is billed at local call rates for Orange customers.
Electricity firm EDF has an international customer services line with an English option, on 09 69 36 63 83 (standard call rate within France).
National rail service SNCF has a customer service line on 36 35 and you can dial ‘1’ after it connects to obtain English-speaking help. Air France offers English-speaking help on 09 69 39 36 54 (standard call rates within France).
European emergency number 112 (in case of crimes, accidents, health crises etc) also works in France and is able to answer calls in English.
The US Embassy in Paris can also be contacted on 01 43 12 22 22 – someone will respond at any time of day or night in case of an emergency affecting a US citizen.
