A few weeks ago, we both went for our (somewhat belated) 6-month dental checkup, six months being what we were used to in The Netherlands. We found a modern practice with two dentist who supposedly speak a bit of English. Not that we met either of them. We were both shocked when the checkup consisted of not much more than a few pokes in the gums. No history, no discussion of proper brushing and flossing, no cleaning. Kaye has had an occasional mystery pain off and on for several years. The assistant took two xrays, developed them on the spot, and couldn't see a problem. (Neither could Kaye's Dutch dentist.) Should we come back in six months for a checkup? Shrug, said the assistant.
The medical system runs quite a bit differently from The Netherlands. There, our insurance paid for everything and we never paid anything beyond the insurance premium and a yearly deductible (in the last few years). When Ed has his encephalitis episode, ambulance, 11 nights in the hospital, drugs, lots of doctors, and followup, we paid not a penny. All bills went directly to the insurance company. We don't even know what it all cost.
Here the government (via an organization known as CPAM) pays a certain percent of each medical expense. For example, for a visit to your médecin traitant (huisarts or general practitioner), they pay 70%. You can pay the rest out of your pocket or you can take out a supplementary insurance that pays the rest, after a fashion. If you have a doctor who charges more than the standard price, depending on your insurance, it will pay the remaining part up to the standard or to some percentage of the standard, depending on the policy you choose. The standard prices for things like eyeglasses and hearing aids are very low, especially when you consider that we both have very high corrections and need special glass. We opted for a policy that will pay some extra on these, but we expect we'll still be paying quite a bit when it comes time to replace them.
The GP gives you a form for his visit, which you have to complete and return to the CPAM to be reimbursed for the 70%. We're still unsure how you get the portion from the insurance company for this. At the pharmacy, they've recorded the information from Kaye's Carte Vitale (Ed's still seems to be lost in limbo) and from the insurance, so there is by and large no charge there now. When we go to a new doctor or specialist, we have to bring both the Carte Vitale and the insurance "card," which is just a slip of paper.
In the Netherlands, if your doctor prescribes an OTC medicine for you, your insurance pays. In France, you pay for it yourself.
On the other hand, a French doctor actually touches you, where a handshake is about all you'll get from your Dutch doctor. Without asking, your French doctor will take your blood pressure at almost every visit, where Kaye had to convince her Dutch huisarts that her blood prressure was high and needed to be dealt with. Preventive medicine seems much more the norm here. We've already had invitations to participate in a couple of different cancer checkups; since we've just moved here, we're late joining these programs. This rarely happens in The Netherlands.
It's occurred to us recently that the weather here is rather like a mild version of the US midwest: winters are cold and dry, summers are hot and humid. Although last winter was an exception, it seems like light overnight freezes are fairly normal, but sub-zero daytime temps are not. Summers are very humid with highs in the mid-30s with (usually) cooler nights.
The GP gives you a form for his visit, which you have to complete and return to the CPAM to be reimbursed for the 70%. We're still unsure how you get the portion from the insurance company for this. At the pharmacy, they've recorded the information from Kaye's Carte Vitale (Ed's still seems to be lost in limbo) and from the insurance, so there is by and large no charge there now. When we go to a new doctor or specialist, we have to bring both the Carte Vitale and the insurance "card," which is just a slip of paper.
In the Netherlands, if your doctor prescribes an OTC medicine for you, your insurance pays. In France, you pay for it yourself.
On the other hand, a French doctor actually touches you, where a handshake is about all you'll get from your Dutch doctor. Without asking, your French doctor will take your blood pressure at almost every visit, where Kaye had to convince her Dutch huisarts that her blood prressure was high and needed to be dealt with. Preventive medicine seems much more the norm here. We've already had invitations to participate in a couple of different cancer checkups; since we've just moved here, we're late joining these programs. This rarely happens in The Netherlands.
It's occurred to us recently that the weather here is rather like a mild version of the US midwest: winters are cold and dry, summers are hot and humid. Although last winter was an exception, it seems like light overnight freezes are fairly normal, but sub-zero daytime temps are not. Summers are very humid with highs in the mid-30s with (usually) cooler nights.
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