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Health: coverage during maternity
Health insurance (assurance maladie) covers a large part of the medical costs linked to maternity. This period runs from the start of pregnancy until 12 days after childbirth.
Key points of the sheet
- To be covered, remember to declare your pregnancy in the first 3 months. You see a general practitioner, ideally your family doctor (médecin traitant), or your midwife (sage-femme).
- During the first 5 months, the compulsory medical examinations for monitoring the pregnancy are covered at 100%. You do not pay the costs in advance (tiers payant).
- The first 2 ultrasound scans, done before the end of the 5th month, are covered at 70%. From the 4th month, a preventive dental check-up is possible, covered at 100%.
- From the 6th month until childbirth, all reimbursable medical costs are covered at 100%, with no advance payment. This also includes costs not related to the pregnancy. The 3rd ultrasound scan is covered at 100%.
- Childbirth costs and hospital stay costs are covered at 100%, up to a limit of 12 days. This applies in a hospital or an approved clinic (clinique conventionnée).
- During the 12 days after childbirth, all reimbursable medical costs are covered at 100%, with no advance payment. Follow-up by a midwife is possible, also covered at 100%.
Words to know
- health insurance (assurance maladie)
- It covers a large part of the medical costs linked to maternity.
- no advance payment (tiers payant)
- With tiers payant, you do not have to pay the costs in advance.
- midwife (sage-femme)
- You can declare your pregnancy with her. During the 12 days after childbirth, she can follow you, covered at 100%.
- family doctor (médecin traitant)
- Ideally, this is the general practitioner you consult to declare your pregnancy.
- ultrasound scan (échographie)
- The first 2, done before the end of the 5th month, are covered at 70%. The 3rd is covered at 100%.
- approved clinic (clinique conventionnée)
- Childbirth and stay costs there are covered at 100%, up to a limit of 12 days.
Test yourself: 3 questions
Within what time must you declare your pregnancy?
In French, the language of the exam: Dans quel délai faut-il déclarer sa grossesse ?
To be covered, you must declare your pregnancy in the first 3 months.
At what rate are the first 2 ultrasound scans covered?
In French, the language of the exam: À quel taux sont prises en charge les 2 premières échographies ?
The first 2 ultrasound scans, before the end of the 5th month, are covered at 70%.
For how many days after childbirth are medical costs covered at 100%?
In French, the language of the exam: Combien de jours après l'accouchement les frais médicaux sont-ils pris en charge à 100% ?
During the 12 days after childbirth, all reimbursable medical costs are covered at 100%.
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More in this topic (Health)
- Health: coverage when your residence permit (titre de séjour) is being renewed
- Health: coverage and reimbursement
- Health: the rights and duties of the patient
Source
Sheet “Santé : la prise en charge durant la maternité” of the French Ministry of the Interior: formation-civique.interieur.gouv.fr. Content published under the Etalab Open Licence 2.0. This page is a plain-language adaptation made by Hexaciv, which is not an official site: if in doubt, the ministry's text is the one that counts.
Ministry sheet read on 23 October 2026, still identical on 25 October 2026.