http://www.who.int/whr/2000/en/whr00_annex_en.pdf
Notes about France's health care system
1. Every French resident carries a carte vital. This card contains a patient's medical records, billing history, and doctors' notes for every exam, hospital visit, blood test, etc. ever performed. This system eliminates a great deal of overhead costs present in the U.S. system. Less than 5% of insurance premiums are used to finance administrative costs.
2. In doctors' offices, you will see a list of prices for every service offered as well as the respective amounts that will be reimbursed by insurance.
3. In France, there are more doctors and hospital beds per capita than in the United States.
4. The French swallow more pills and receive more vaccinations per capita than Americans.
5. The employer and employee split the health insurance premium.
6. There is a co-pay at the time of treatment, but it's mostly reimbursed by insurance.
7. One's insurance plan is set up according to your line of work or geographic region.
8. Insurance agencies are non-profit. They don't refuse coverage, regardless of pre-existing conditions. They can't terminate coverage if you lose your job (in which case, the government pays the employer's share of the premium). They can't deny any claim, there is no deductible, there are no delays in reimbursement.
9. Queues are similar to those experienced by the insured in the U.S., except for pediatricians. There is a shortage of pediatricians in France, but all residents get free, full post-natal nurse care.
10. There is virtually no limitation on a patient's choice. They may choose any doctor, hospital, surgeon, or clinic and the system will foot the bill. Ambulance service is also covered.
11. There is no "gatekeeper" referral system. This means that general practitioners don't have to refer you to a specialist if you require one. Requiring a referral is a means of conserving valuable specialized resources. In France, insurance will reimburse you more of the bill if you do obtain a referral before seeing a specialist.
12. The French believe their system is too expensive.
13. It's illegal to opt out of insurance.
14. Retired people are covered by former employer.
15. The government pays the premium for unemployed.
16. Health insurance premiums are dirt cheap.
17. Supplemental insurance is available from non-profits for for-profit insurance companies (also cheap premiums). This insurance would cover the share of the co-pays that the non-profit insurance company (mandatory policy) doesn't cover. It also pays for elective procedures and conditions not covered by mandatory policies.
18. Multi-payer system, but it acts like a single-payer system because the Health Ministry dictates what providers can charge for most treatments and prices for drugs. The government negotiates prices for procedures and treatments with doctors, hospitals, and pharma companies.
19. These negotiations are completely transparent.
20. Most patients pay full charge at the point of treatment , but the poorest pay nothing. Instead, the government covers their fees through social security. Those below the poverty line pay less for services. Nobody pays more than $100 in a single day.
21. Making patients pay up front keeps people in touch with the cost of health care.
22. Doctors get more paid vacation time than U.S. doctors.
23. Medical education is paid for by the government.
24. Malpractice insurance for health care professionals is much cheaper in France than in the U.S.
25. Physicians are paid less, but they have much more freedom to treat their patients as they see fit.
26. Major health insurance funds are currently operating a deficit, increasing costs.
27. The solidarity principle rules French health care: "when we get sick, everybody is equal"
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