A Hefty Bill: The Actual Costs of a Hospital Stay in France
Hospitalization can be expensive, even in public hospitals. Although fees and reimbursement rates are set by Social Security, patients often face additional expenses such as doctors' fees and any out-of-pocket charges.
Patients who wish to enhance their comfort during their hospital stay must also pay additional fees, such as the cost of a private room. If an agreement has been signed between the hospital and Social Security, Social Security covers 80% of the standard rates, leaving the remaining 20% to be paid by the patient.
However, if the patient has private health insurance, it may cover some or all of these additional costs, depending on the plan selected.
In addition, patients must also pay the hospital flat fee, which is the remaining amount they are responsible for paying for any stay longer than 24 hours in a public or private hospital. This flat fee is €20 per day (including the day of discharge) and €15 for psychiatric care. Without supplemental health insurance, these costs can quickly add up and increase the final bill.
In short, taking out supplemental health insurance can be a wise decision to avoid unpleasant surprises in the event of hospitalization. Patients can thus benefit from additional coverage for extra expenses such as doctors' fees, out-of-network fees, and comfort-of-stay charges.
