There are a lot of things that seem 'normal' to me now, but as an American or an expat, shouldn't:
I'm feeling pretty sick tonight (laryngitis), which made me want to talk about health care in France:
1. When you go to the doctors to get a shot, you have to bring the shot with you (yup, you have to go to the pharmacy to pick it up first)
2. In order to get the shot in the first place, you have to see a Doctor who has to give you a prescription - that's kind of annoying.
2. You don't have a maximum number of sick days at work. You go to the Doctor, he/she gives you a form to fill out (if you really are sick), you bring it to your office when you feel better as proof that you really were sick. If you are out of the office for more than 3 consecutive days, the French government and the company you work for reimburse you; under three days, you don't get paid.
3. If you want to consult a specialist (like a cardiologist), you have to see a general practitioner first.
4. Most medicine in France is reimbursed - you can leave a pharmacy with a bag full of medicine, for free.
5. When you get an MRI or an x-ray, the Doctor (not yours) at the hospital gives you the results right after the exam. You don't have to wait for your Doctor to get the results.
6. Doctors in France make a good living, but far from what American Doctors make.
7. Every French citizen has complete access to healthcare.
8. To become a general practitioner in France, you have to go through 9 years of school after college.
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