I've never experienced any of the problems that you mention. I rarely have need of a visit to the doctor, or reliance on the French Health Service, however I did contract Lyme's disease from a tick earlier in the year, and the prompt diagnosis and subsequent treatment was brilliant. Blood tests were quick, the pharmacy was able to supply ALL the necessary antibiotics in one hit, and a nurse arrived every day to administer the injections. Yes, I do have "top up" mutuelle insurance (otherwise the drugs would have cost quite a bit), but that seemed to have no bearing on my treatment. My only beef with the French Health Service is the stupid bureaucracy displayed by CPAM if you have the need to visit one of their centres for administrative purposes. The actual "front of house" health service is excellent.
My husband and I find the medical system to be excellent. I don't know when you were last insured in the USA but my health care cost $600 per MONTH (2011) and I still had to pay $35 for GP and $50 specialist visits. I had excellent, timely care but at a very high price. I too am sorry you have had such bad experiences .
My experience in France has been superb, I was rushed into hospital 4 weeks after having my 2nd baby - I needed immediate surgery and was admitted, given a single room and operated on before my husband had time to get back from work. Then they arranged for me to be put back into a maternity room so my baby could be with me. I was in for 7 days, had excellent care, they helped care for my baby as my stitched meant I struggled to pick her up.
After that I had a nurse come out to my house every day and my mutuelle (on the back of a prescription written by my wonderful Medecin) arranged for a home helper to look after my eldest child and help around the house until I was recovered.
All round excellent experience.
When my 3m old daughter was exceptionally tiny and 'failing to thrive', I was referred to a paediatrician in Montpellier, we paid 45 euro for a private session with him and saw him within a week. He was 'The' top paediatrician at Montpellier University Hospital. We had tests (1000 euro) which were reimbursed by the Mutuelle. No stone left unturned and they explained why each was going to be done. He was also very open from the beginning and said he didn't expect to find anything as he felt she was a very strong healthy baby but just small. He was right she was doing fine & is still petite now. We couldn't fault his work or his words.
Sorry you've had a bad experience so far, but its certainly rare from what I've heard about the French Health System.
Sorry to read of your experience but I have to agree with the other posts on this topic. I have lived here for over 5 years, gone through two pregnancies in French hospitals and the care was marvellous. Each member of the family has undergone at least one surgical procedure - appointments have been promptly booked - a few weeks wait for a consultant at the most. In the case of my little boy, the time from referral to surgery was two weeks (it wasn't an emergency either, they just didn't want new parents to be worried). We did not have any private medical insurance for him at the time but I don't feel that this stopped us from having access to all the tests and x-rays available.
Whereabouts do you live in France? Maybe this is a problem unique to where you are. I hope that things sort themselves out and that you are able to get the medical support you need.
Like all of the other responders here, my experience has been totally opposite of your description - with no mutuelle and better explanations than I ever received in the UK. "Are you sure you are living in France?" is all I can say.
I totally disagree, as I see most of the other respondants have. My wife and I have had very prompt action from our local doctors and when we've needed hospital/specialist treatment its happened within 2-3 weeks at most. We always check out our ailments on the internet first so that we can better understand the medical terms used by the doctors - who always fully explain the actions they propose, usually with diagrams. We usually come out of the doctors loaded with prescriptions - the French seem to love having 3 types of medication for every ailment. You can always check out the medication on line. Xrays and tests are also easily obtained. We pay 80 Euros a month to top up our carte vitale/CPAM health service and have never had any of the problems you've listed. The French health service is excellent - I'd suggest the problem is with you.
I think you must have a problem .My wife and I have had some severe medical conditions here in Brittany. I cannot speak highly enough of the speedy and dedicated treatment we have received.
Communication is important .If you are unable to speak french,it may cause a problem, however the medical staff go out of their way to try to do their best.
The NHS was one of the things that broke the camel's back and made us decide against even trying to stay in the UK. Our daughter was 6 years old and we were told that we would have to wait about two years for treatment for her. She was 8 when we arrived here and still untreated, it happened within six monts.
This year as many SFN people know, I broke my shoulder. A very bad break and dislocation of my left shoulder, OK the hospital I was taken into got things wrong but we are taking legal steps to do something about that. Neurologists and cardiologists have spent a lot of time doing things. My heart is OK, but for six months I have had a very expensive heart monitor implanted in my chest which will be removed in three weeks. I had a diagnosis of probable epilepsy, then various scans of my brain, MRI, etc. I have also had scans of the shoulder. A stack of x-rays about 4cm thick is here near me. I have seen all manner of specialists who came to dead ends. Then I went to alternative doctors for second and third opinions, eventually had a machine for a night that diagnosed serious sleep apnoea. Now I have a respirator for the night. Throughout all of this I have had physiotherapy to re-educate my shoulder three times a week, I see a homoeopath and various other doctors.
In the UK my private health insurance would not have helped much because a lot of things would not have been included as I never expected them. The NHS part would have been with long waits, little chance of three physio sessions a week and all of the extras.
Michele, feel glad you are here in France and not many other places in the world and count your blessings.
Well well, I don’t recognize my country here…As a matter of fact a general practitioner, according to the French Embassy in the USA will charge you from 80 to 100 USD, in France, they charge 23 Euros and you are refunded by the Sécurité Sociale…when it comes to the CMU problem, what is said here is totally wrong…Working in Social sector, I can assure you that all the people in need that are followed by the social workers are definitely cured well by the State hospitals. You can go the to emergencies and get treatment for free if you can’t pay…that’s why they are so crowded…even by people who are not in need of instant care…just because they need a doctor…As far as I am concerned, I cut the tip of my finger off three weeks ago, I was operated (they did a transplant) it cost me 28 euros the total charge was 1570 euros, the rest was paid by the Social security…the nurse was supposed to charge me 75 euros for coming and change my bandage every two days…After reading my “carte vitale” she charged me 23 euros…not more…You can buy medication with a doctor’s prescription and get some of your money back…200 euros a moth for an insurance, is I think quite expensive when here, for nothing you can get cured…Just have a look here http://www.cmu.fr/tableaux_garanties_cmuc.php
Are you SURE you are living in France? En êtes vous sure?
After 23 years of the most excellent healthcare IN FRANCE - including hospitalisation, with modern equipment ( MRI scan within 6 days, Cat scan the same day, results back - THE SAME DAY, brilliant nurses, caring and patient doctors, fantastic follow up with 'district nurses' (infirmières à domicile) and home care as needed, and all without any top up (complémentaire) policy. Compare that to a member of my family, unfortunately still in the UK under the NHS, where a CANCER possibility will not be tested for another 6 weeks and the results and further 8 weeks away. I think you must be referring to another planet - 'madame'. Where do you live?
I haven"t encountered as many problems as you have. But I do find that consultants don't want to give you info and look indignant if you ask questions. I have lost faith in them, so much so I did not bother going for my annual check up this year (for cancer) after last year's farce. I took my mammogram and he hardly lifted them off the table so could not have seen them at all and his examination was too say minimal was an understatement. He did not even check under my arms, so I decided not to waste my fuel going to Limoges. I also agree that they treat you like a piece of meat. My scar is unnecessarily huge, not tidy and I believe I may still have a stitch left there, but when I asked he said it was "rien". The August vacance affected my surgeons brain big time because he sent me off to see the radiotherapist and when I arrived for the appointment, the very nice guy said, why are you here you need chemo! However, on the plus side, I do have a good GP.
Totally disagree,myself and my family have always had excellent service from doctors,specialists,nurses,dentists and have rarely had to wait more than a few days for any appointment.