Fees, reimbursement and extra charges (dépassements d’honoraires)

Fee sectors (secteur 1, secteur 2): what changes

A regulated-fee doctor (secteur 1) charges French health insurance (Assurance maladie) tariffs without extra fees (unless you make a specific request regarding time or place). A flexible-fee doctor (secteur 2) freely sets fees “with tact and moderation”; the portion above the reimbursement base (base de remboursement) is the extra fee (dépassement). Doctors who join the controlled-pricing scheme (OPTAM) commit to limiting these extra fees. Each doctor's fee sector can be checked in the Ameli healthcare directory.

What French health insurance (Assurance maladie) reimburses

Reimbursement applies to the procedure's reimbursement base (base de remboursement), not the fees charged: generally 70 %, and 100 % in certain situations (long-term condition (affection de longue durée), maternity, solidarity supplementary health insurance (CSS)). Your supplementary health insurance (complémentaire santé) may cover all or part of the remainder, depending on your policy. Extra fees (dépassement) are not included in the reimbursement base.

The quotation and written information

You are informed of the price before any procedure. When extra fees (dépassements d’honoraires) reach 70 euros, prior written information is compulsory (quotation). Procedures not reimbursed by French health insurance (Assurance maladie), for example certain refractive surgery techniques or elective examinations, must also be explained before they are performed.

Special cases

People covered by solidarity supplementary health insurance (complémentaire santé solidaire, CSS) cannot be charged extra fees (dépassement d’honoraires), unless they make a specific request. A consultation outside usual hours or an appointment requested for a particular date may incur a surcharge provided for under the healthcare agreement. An urgent consultation following a doctor's referral may incur a specific surcharge.

Our fees for routine procedures

The prices shown are the total fees charged at the practice (including the reimbursement base (base de remboursement) of French health insurance (Assurance maladie)). The reception desk can advise you about other procedures.

French health insurance (Assurance maladie) reimburses 70 % of the reimbursement base (base de remboursement); direct access to an ophthalmologist does not change reimbursement. Your supplementary health insurance (complémentaire santé) may cover all or part of the remainder; prior written information is provided when extra fees (dépassement) reach 70 €. For refractive surgery: how much does refractive surgery cost?