The French health system is recognised as one of the best by the World Health Organization, and people moving to France permanently often ask what they need to do to take advantage of the system.

It depends on your citizenship and immigration status: when you have lived in France for three months, you are eligible to apply for French Medical Insurance regardless of your nationality, as long as your documents are in order (you must have a carte de sejour).

The cost is based on your previous calender year's income, and the size of your family.

The application form for this insurance can be obtained from the Caisse Primaire de Maladie (CPAM), normally located in the city that is the Prefecture city. However, it is a separate agency, not located within the Prefecture building. The CPAM also provides medical insurance cover for unemployed French people.

The application is available online at

http://www.ameli.fr/formulaire2/S3710.pdf.

Your insurance cover should commence the day you submit your application, even though it takes months to receive your green Carte Vitale.  You just mail your fiche de soins that you will get with any and every medical or dental intervention and you will be reimbursed whatever percentage they reimburse for that intervention.

More information about the French Health Service is available at Expat Health Direct.