Médecin Traitant in France: What It Is and How to Find One
Last updated: 5 May 2026
This post is part of my Healthcare in France for Expats series. If you found it helpful, check out my other articles and more to make navigating the system a little easier. Check back often—I’m adding new guides regularly to make French healthcare a little less confusing!
When I first moved to France, I assumed finding a doctor would work roughly the way it does in the US, search online, pick the nearest one, book an appointment. I quickly discovered that France works differently. The first several doctors I contacted were not taking new patients. I started to feel genuinely anxious about what I would do if I got sick before I had anyone to call.
Eventually I found my médecin traitant through a family recommendation, and registering with them turned out to be far simpler than I expected. Getting that registration confirmed on my Ameli account was a genuine relief, knowing I had someone coordinating my care, and that my reimbursements were at the full rate, made the whole healthcare system feel a lot less intimidating.
If you are at the start of this process, here is what you actually need to know.
Table of Contents
What Is a Médecin Traitant?
A médecin traitant is your designated primary care doctor in France, equivalent to what Americans would call a family doctor or general practitioner. They are the first point of contact for most health needs: routine check-ups, prescription renewals, minor illnesses, and referrals to specialists.
The French healthcare system is built around the parcours de soins coordonnes, a coordinated care pathway. Most specialist visits, lab tests, and follow-ups are meant to go through your médecin traitant. This keeps your medical history, prescriptions, and referrals in one place and ensures you receive the highest reimbursement rates from Assurance Maladie.
You are free to choose any general practitioner as your médecin traitant, provided they agree to take you on. You can also change doctors at any time with no penalty, if you move, find someone who speaks better English, or simply prefer a different practice, you update your registration on Ameli and start the process with the new doctor.
Why It Matters Financially
This is the most important practical reason to get this done quickly. Without a registered médecin traitant, your reimbursement rate from Assurance Maladie drops from 70% to 30% of the base consultation fee.
The base fee for a GP visit in France is 26.50€ (as of 2025). Here is what that means in practice:
Situation | Assurance Maladie Reimburses | You Pay (without mutuelle) |
With registered médecin traitant(secteur 1) | 70% = 18.55 € | 7.95 € (ticket moderateur) |
Without registered medecin traitant | 30% = 7.95 € | 18.55 € |
Specialist with referral | 70% of base fee | Ticket modérateur only |
Specialist without referral | 30% of base fee | 70% + any dépassement |
If you have a mutuelle (top-up insurance), it typically covers the ticket modérateur, the 30% you pay after Assurance Maladie reimburses its share. Without a registered medecin traitant, the gap your mutuelle is asked to cover is much larger and many mutuelles will not cover it fully.
Over time, especially if you need multiple appointments or specialist referrals, the difference is significant. Registering a médecin traitant is one of the most financially meaningful administrative steps you can take after arriving in France.
Specialists You Can See Without a Referral
Even without a médecin traitant, or while you are waiting to register one, you can go directly to the following specialists and still receive full reimbursement:
- Gynecologists (routine check-ups, contraception, pregnancy care)
- Ophthalmologists (vision checks, glasses prescriptions)
- Dentists (regular dental care)
- Psychiatrists (if you are under 26)
For everything else, you will need a referral from your médecin traitant to receive the 70% reimbursement rate at specialists.
How to Find a Doctor in France
Finding a médecin traitant who is accepting new patients is genuinely harder than it should be. France has a shortage of general practitioners in many areas, urban and rural alike, and it is completely normal to hear no several times before finding someone. Do not take it personally and do not stop trying.
Online directories
Doctolib.fr: The most widely used booking platform in France. You can filter by specialty, location, and sometimes language, and see the next available appointment. Many doctors, particularly in cities, use it for online scheduling. Available on desktop and as an app.
Ameli.fr: The official Assurance Maladie directory. Search by location, specialty, and healthcare sector (secteur 1 or secteur 2). Less user-friendly than Doctolib but the most comprehensive and reliable source.
Local recommendations
Word of mouth is often the most effective approach, especially if you want a doctor who speaks English or is familiar with expat patients.
Ask neighbors, colleagues, or parents at your children’s school
Expat Facebook groups and WhatsApp communities often share doctor recommendations, particularly in Paris, Lyon, and Nice
Your local pharmacist, they know which practices in the area are taking new patients and can point you in the right direction
Calling or walking in directly
Not every practice is listed on Doctolib, especially in smaller towns. The direct approach often works: call the cabinet medical and ask “Acceptez-vous de nouveaux patients comme medecin traitant?” or stop by in person and ask the receptionist. Even with limited French this is manageable, and a direct ask sometimes gets a yes when the online listing says full.
If language is a concern
- On Doctolib, some doctors list the languages they speak in their profile, though fluency varies and it is worth asking directly before assuming.
- International clinics and medical centers exist in larger cities. In Paris, the American Hospital of Paris and Centre Medical International are well known among expats.
- Telemedicine platforms like Qare offer English-speaking doctors for online consultations, useful as a temporary solution while you are still looking for an in-person medecin traitant.
Health centres (maisons de santé and centres de santé)
If private GP practices in your area are all full, try local health centers. These multi-doctor clinics often have more capacity and may be more open to taking on new patients, including those who have had difficulty elsewhere.
How to Register
Once you have found a doctor willing to take you on, the registration process is straightforward.
Step 1: Book a consultation
Book a standard appointment (médecine generale on Doctolib or equivalent). During the visit, tell the doctor you would like to register them as your médecin traitant: “Je voudrais vous declarer comme mon médecin traitant.”
My first appointment was with a substitute doctor rather than the main practitioner, a replacement who happened to be on duty that day. She took my medical history, looked through the file I had brought and had translated from the US, and walked me through exactly what she was doing as she filled in the registration form. I had not expected it to be that smooth.
Step 2: The declaration form
The form is called the déclaration de choix du médecin traitant. It includes your name, date of birth, social security number, and the doctor’s details. In most cases the doctor fills this in electronically during the visit, you do not need to do anything except confirm your information is correct.
Step 3: Submission and confirmation
Your doctor submits the declaration directly through their secure portal. In rare cases involving a paper form, you may need to mail it to your local CPAM, the address is on your Ameli account.
Once processed, log into your Ameli account and check Mes informations. Your médecin traitant‘s name should appear there. From that point, your reimbursements follow the coordinated care pathway automatically.
A few practical notes: You can change your médecin traitant at any time by repeating this process with a new doctor. Each family member needs their own registration, for children, parents usually declare a pediatrician or family doctor on their behalf. And if you have already had appointments while your registration was being processed, reimbursements are updated retroactively once the doctor is officially linked to your account.
Tips When You Are Having Trouble Finding One
Start before you need one. In cities like Paris, Lyon, and Marseille, it can take weeks or months to find a GP taking new patients. Do not wait until you are ill.
Keep trying. A doctor not accepting new long-term patients can still see you for one-off appointments. Ask if they are on the list even if their profile says full; lists change.
Try nearby towns. If nothing is available where you live, extending your search by 10-15 minutes can make a significant difference.
Have a backup plan. While you are looking, keep a note of: your nearest Maison Medicale de Garde (out-of-hours urgent care), SOS Medecins (home visit service), and emergency numbers, 15 for SAMU, 18 for fire brigade, 112 EU-wide. Your pharmacist can also advise on minor issues and point you toward urgent care when needed.
Resources
Book appointments and search for doctors
Official Assurance Maladie doctor directory and Ameli account
SOS Medecins (home visit doctors)
Telemedicine with English-speaking option
How to Apply for French Sécurité Sociale as a Foreigner
Carte Vitale in France: How to Get Yours as a Foreigner
FAQ
What is a médecin traitant in English?
A médecin traitant is your registered primary care doctor in France, the equivalent of a family doctor or general practitioner in the US. They are the first point of contact for most health needs and the person who coordinates your care, writes your prescriptions, and refers you to specialists when needed. Registering one with Assurance Maladie is what puts you on the coordinated care pathway and unlocks the full reimbursement rates from the French health system.
Do I need a médecin traitant to see a doctor in France?
No, you can see any doctor without having a registered médecin traitant. But there is a significant financial cost to doing so. Without one, Assurance Maladie only reimburses 30% of your consultation fee instead of the standard 70%, and your mutuelle will often not cover the difference. For anything beyond a one-off visit, registering a médecin traitant makes a real difference to what comes out of your pocket over time.
What happens if I see a specialist without a referral?
Your reimbursement drops from 70% to 30% of the specialist’s base fee, and most mutuelles will not cover the gap. There are exceptions, gynaecologists, ophthalmologists, dentists, and psychiatrists under 26 can all be seen directly without a referral and still qualify for full reimbursement. For all other specialists, go through your médecin traitant first to avoid the out-of-pocket costs.
How long does it take to register a médecin traitant?
In most cases it is almost immediate. Your doctor submits the déclaration de choix du médecin traitant electronically during your appointment, and the registration typically appears on your Ameli account within a day or two. Once it shows up under Mes informations, your reimbursements automatically follow the coordinated care pathway from that point forward. If your doctor uses a paper form instead, you may need to mail it to your local CPAM, which can add a few weeks.
Can I change my médecin traitant?
Yes, at any time and with no penalty. If you move, find a doctor who is a better fit, or simply prefer someone else, you repeat the registration process with the new doctor and Assurance Maladie updates your file automatically. Your previous médecin traitant does not need to be notified, and there is no waiting period before your new registration takes effect.
What should I do if no doctors in my area are taking new patients?
Try several approaches at once rather than going through them one by one. Check Doctolib and Ameli, ask at your local pharmacy, and call practices directly even if their online profile says full, lists change more often than profiles get updated. Look into local health centres (maisons de santé or centres de santé), which often have more availability than private practices. Extend your search to nearby towns. In the meantime, télémedicine platforms like Qare offer English-speaking doctors for online consultations and can serve as a practical temporary solution while you keep looking.
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