In France when you work you have to pay a percentage of your salary for the national healthcare to cover you and your family. This national healthcare reimburse

In France when you work you have to pay a percentage of your salary for the national healthcare to cover you and your family. This national healthcare reimburse you about 60 to 80% of the bills depending on the type of treatment. The remainder is paid by a private healthcare that your employer is chosing and paying for you. The difference between the many private healthcare is usually the amount reimbursed for dental treatment and eyeglasses. If you have no work, there is an universal healthcare to cover you, but you cannot get fancy glasses or good tooth implant. The prices are regulated by deciding the amount reimbursed by the national healthcare for each medical act. The private healthcare reimbursement are based on these prices. Doctors are free to ask more money, but you are going to pay the delta. Savings are mainly achieved by having both sick and healthy people paying. Also, the fact that any medical treatment is basically free encourages you to see your doctor everytime you are beginning to be sick, preventing complications leading to a stay in hospital. Note also that many private healthcare are mutual insurance which are lowering the rates if there is a profit.