In France, as a  Non-European students you will be ask by your school to enroll in the French social security system. You can contact the local student social security agency in order to apply for a total or partial refund of health care expenses. In France there is two health systems: "la sécurité sociale" (social security) -> mandatory, and "la mutuelle"(complementary insurance) -> not mandatory but it is advisable because your social security will only reimburse 70% of your spend so imagine you are going to a dentist, it will easily be 150 euros, your social security will only reimburse you 105€. For a student, the social security is around 220 euros for one year. And a complementary insurance is between 10 and 35 euros, it depends the service that you are need like if you have glasses or tooth care. 

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The cost of a doctor’s visit can range from €24 to €60 for a specialist. When you see a doctor in France, you will be responsible for paying the entire cost of the appointment yourself. Then your social security will refund you but sometimes you will have to send a claim to get your refund. When making an appointment you should check that the doctor is “conventionné” (he/she doesn’t charge higher rates that you won’t be able to get refunded).

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Two agencies provide this two refund services:  We recommend you the "SMEBA".

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LMDE - Nantes
6, rue du chapeau rouge
44 000 Nantes
Tel: 09 69 36 96 01
Web site: http://www.lmde.com/ 

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When you arrive, you need to find a personal doctor for all your stay, you can ask your social agency to have some adresses. 

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If you need to see an English-speaking doctor, contact the following doctor’s office to make an appointment:

Cabinet Savage – 117 Boulevard Michelet.  02 40 74 40 49 Directions: Tramway line 2, Stop at Michelet 

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If you are very sick and you do not have any personnal doctor yet, you can go to the SUMPPS,

it is the university health service, it is open Monday to Friday, 8:30 am to 5pm. 

110, bd Michelet, 44322 NANTES Cedex 3, Tél. : 02.40.37.10.50

Tramway Line 2  Stop at Michelet or Morrhonnière-Petit Port

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If you need to see a doctor during the night or on Sunday, you have to call "SOS Médecin”, which will be more expensive (around 40-50 euros and you won't be reimburse only as like if you paid 24 euros).

In case of Emergency you can also call the 15 is you speak French or the 112 from your phone to speak to someone that speak your language. You can also go to the hospital in town, CHU Hôtel Dieu – Place Alexis Ricordeau,  02 40 08 33 33 

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If you need medication, the doctor will write you a prescription that you can take to a pharmacy (do not forget to take with you your social security card, your complementary card and your prescription). If you all medicine are reimbursable you won't pay anything. You can easily recognise a pharmacy from the big green cross outside the shop. Pharmacies sell some medicines over-the-counter (without a prescription), though many medicines are not available unless you have a prescription from a doctor. Only a few pharmacies are open at night and on Sunday; to find a pharmacy that is open after-hours, please call the number 3237; or if it is after 9:00 p.m. call the police station: 02 53 46 70 00. 

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EMERGENCY TELEPHONE NUMBERS

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To finish, you might want to register this number on your phone: 

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Police : For traffic accidents, disturbances to public order, crime: 17

Fire Service : For fires, accidents, and medical emergencies: 18

Emergency Medical Service (Samu) For serious medical emergencies: 15

European emergency number (from a mobile): 112