In your country, are consultations with the general practitioner or the dentist reimbursed? Do you receive a compensation, covered by the health insurance system, if you become ill and cannot work? Is it possible to buy all kinds of medications without medical prescription?
In France, Belgium and Switzerland, there is a public health insurance system for people who pay contributions, and a private health insurance system, oftentimes financed by employers which compensates what is not covered by the public system.
In France, consultations with health care professionals are usually covered by social security: medical costs have to be paid and are then reimbursed. All you need to do is show the “carte vitale” issued by social security. Some prescription medications are reimbursed. Traditional medicines known as alternative or non-conventional medicines are usually not covered. The CMU (couverture maladie universelle) provides free access to health insurance for non-employed individuals. Generally, people also contribute to a complementary health insurance which allows them to receive a supplement for expenses not reimbursed or only partially reimbursed by social security (example: hospital expenses, dental care, glasses).
In Canada, the health care system is public and free for all Canadian citizens or those who have a “landed immigrant” status. However, foreign students and visitors of the country must subscribe to a private insurance to benefit from health coverage. It is more than recommended to have a health insurance when traveling to Canada: the bill for a visit to the doctor or the hospital is expected to be very, very expensive!!!
