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Healthcare cover: the different types of health insurance
This sheet presents the different types of health cover. It also explains how to access them.
Key points of the sheet
- Healthcare is expensive. It is largely paid for by the social contributions of people who work.
- Universal health protection (PUMa) guarantees that health costs are covered. It applies to anyone who works or lives in France in a stable and regular way and is registered with health insurance (assurance maladie).
- PUMa lets everyone access care, even after losing a job. It reimburses consultations and medicines, at least at the basic rate: it is the basic cover.
- Complementary cover, also called a mutuelle, adds to the basic cover. It is not compulsory, but it is recommended.
- Every private-sector employer must offer you complementary health cover. The employer can pay part of its cost.
- The complementary reimbursement depends on the level of cover you choose. The members of your household can also be covered.
- The Complémentaire Santé Solidaire (C2S) helps people with low incomes. Depending on your income, it can be free or cost less than €1 per day.
- With the C2S, you do not pay upfront for certain care, under conditions. If you benefit from it, all members of your household do too.
Words to know
- universal health protection (PUMa) (protection universelle maladie)
- It is the basic cover. It applies to people registered with health insurance who work or live in France in a stable and regular way.
- social contributions (cotisations sociales)
- People who work pay them, and they largely fund healthcare.
- complementary health insurance (mutuelle)
- It is the complementary cover: it adds to the basic cover and is not compulsory.
- Complémentaire Santé Solidaire (C2S, solidarity health cover)
- It is complementary cover for people with low incomes. Depending on your income, it can be free or cost less than €1 per day.
- paying upfront (avance de frais)
- With the C2S, you receive certain care without paying upfront.
Test yourself: 3 questions
What is the basic health cover?
In French, the language of the exam: Quelle est la couverture maladie de base ?
Universal health protection reimburses consultations and medicines, at least at the basic rate. It is the basic cover.
What must every private-sector employer do?
In French, the language of the exam: Que doit faire tout employeur du secteur privé ?
Every private-sector employer must offer you complementary health cover.
How much does the Complémentaire Santé Solidaire cost?
In French, the language of the exam: Combien coûte la Complémentaire Santé Solidaire ?
Depending on your income, the C2S can be free or cost less than €1 per day.
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Source
Sheet “La prise en charge : les différentes couvertures maladie” 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.