Covid-19: Do I have to pay if I call a doctor?

Calling your doctor is now (since April 4) considered the same as a video-link telemedicine consultation and is therefore 100% covered by the French national healthcare system.

It works as a traditional consultation. The first part will be reimbursed by the Assurance Maladie, and the rest by your mutuelle.

If your doctor accepts third-party payment (tiers-payant), you do not pay anything upfront and the doctor is directly reimbursed within the system.

The health ministry is allowing telephone consultations to be reimbursed during the Covid-19 epidemic, as not everyone has a computer camera or smartphone to make a medical video consultation.

Teleconsultations can now be carried out simply by telephone for people who are sick or likely to be infected with Covid-19.

It can also be used by patients with long-term conditions, for senior citizens over 70 years old and for those living in a medical desert, where there is no doctor.

Telephone consultations are also open to remote monitoring by nurses of patients with Covid-19.

Patients should call in priority their own GP (médecin traitant), before calling another doctor.