IF SOMETHING HAPPENS
Three situations — three clear routes
- 01
If it is urgent
Life-threatening illness or serious injury
SAMU 114 → emergency care - 02
If you are unwell
Fever, pain or a planned concern
Doctor / health centre / clinic - 03
If you need tests
Tests, imaging or a prescription
First check referral requirements
YOUR FIRST DOCTOR VISIT
Your first healthcare route
Imagine waking up with a fever. If it is not life-threatening, start with a doctor near home: a family practice, public health centre or private clinic. Before going, ask whether they see foreign residents and whether you will need to pay; this depends on your status and the type of care.
What your insurance should cover
- ✓ Doctor visits
- ✓ Tests and imaging
- ✓ Hospital admission
- ✓ Treatment abroad
- ✓ Medical evacuation
Payment: ask whether the insurer pays the clinic directly or you pay first and claim reimbursement.
WHAT YOU ARE MOST LIKELY TO NEED AFTER MOVING
You feel unwell
Start with a family doctor, health centre or the nearest private practice.
Your child is ill
Choose a paediatrician in advance and know where to go evenings and weekends.
Ongoing treatment
Bring a medical summary and medicine supply; check local availability in advance.
You need tests or imaging
Ask whether a referral is required, where the test is done and how results are issued.
Dental and optical care
These often use separate appointments and insurance limits — check your policy.
A complex case
Check whether insurance covers treatment or evacuation to Réunion or South Africa.
Public discussions contain very different experiences — even at the same facility. These stories show why a clear care plan is more useful than choosing a “best clinic” from a single review.
A same-day appointment
One resident booked a private practice in the morning and saw the doctor that same day.
The referral moved quickly
After a local clinic visit, one resident had an X-ray at a public hospital without a long wait.
The same place, a different day
One visit went smoothly; on another day, the resident had to explain their usual treatment plan more firmly.
A trusted doctor may not be nearby
Residents recommend finding a doctor through referrals and saving a backup address for evening or urgent care.
YOUR MOVING PLAN
What to do before flying and in your first week
BEFORE FLYING Check coverage and evacuation
BEFORE FLYING Bring prescriptions and medicine
BEFORE FLYING Prepare an English medical summary
ON ARRIVAL Save the hospital and SAMU 114
ON ARRIVAL Find a doctor, pharmacy and paediatrician
Check healthcare near your home
Use the map to find a doctor, pharmacy, paediatrician and laboratory near your future home.