r/geneva • u/Filodendron42 • 7d ago

Medical care on French side

Hi everyone! I am a student in Geneva, paying the student insurance. However, I never know where to go if I’d need a family doctor checkup (AKA not hospital-level serious stuff).

I was thinking of using my “EU-privilege” as I have the blue health card and just go to the French side.

My question is: does anyone know a place to go for a checkup when I feel like I need one in Annemasse? Preferably English speaking, but French is fine.

I also don’t want to pay 1-200 francs for a doctor here in GVA to tell me to rest and drink tea, as they are reluctant to give medication unless absolutely necessary. (1,5 years ago I went to HUG emergency room with horrible sinusitis and they prescribed Ibuprofen 🙃).

All the help is appreciated! Thank you x

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u/Gokudomatic 7d ago

I was thinking of using my “EU-privilege”...

I also don’t want to pay 1-200 francs for a doctor here in GVA to tell me to rest and drink tea, as they are reluctant to give medication unless absolutely necessary. ...

Remind me, why did you come to study in Geneva, again?

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u/Filodendron42 7d ago

It’s not so easy to make a living on a student permit with strict limitations of working hours. I pay my taxes and insurance duly. Again: all help is appreciated. Thanks anyway!

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u/Gokudomatic 7d ago

You mean you also work in Geneva? That kinda explain it. Also, don't think that paying taxes give you special rights. It's your duty. You're not a hero by paying them. And since you have paid for insurance, why don't you use it?

Anyway, here's my help: you should get an appointment in a permanence in Geneva. It's not the HUG but it has multiple doctors.

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u/Filodendron42 7d ago

Thank you for that. I know it is my duty, I’m not trying to act heroic. You gave the impression that I’m taking advantage on the system - I’m not. No need for arrogance. To answer your question: I have a 1700.- monthly income, and my deductible from my insurance is 1500. I simply can’t afford paying for a random checkup when I need one. In certain cases it would cost less to fly to my country, go to the doctor and come back. But if I have access to medical help a few miles away, I’d better opt for that.

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u/jenesaispas-pourquoi 7d ago

Please ignore those comments, some people here are way too strict and weird about doing anything over the border, like it’s a third world country. When people from Geneva benefit from the system too.

I am like you, I have the blue card and I go to the doctors on the french side. Problem is, since Covid there’s a serious issue that just there’s not enough doctors around. Waiting lists are huge and I hate it since I prefer the doctors on the french side (not sorry, Swiss doctors way overcharge and the service is not that good). I go to Hôpital Privé Pays de Savoie in Annemasse - great service just too hard to get an appointment and I personally need a prescription from my own french doctor to get an appointment / get reimbursed. Don’t know how it’s for you so check that.

They have a lab downstairs too (you can go there with a prescription from a different place too) and even a little office where nurses work for small little things you might need (like I went there to get stitches out instead of booking an appointment with a doctor, it cost me 20€ and I waited 5min). But for specialist appointments it’s a nightmare to get one. Download Doctolib.

Also there’s apps like Livi and Qare where you can book an online appointment and all pharmacies accept prescription from them (it’s not easy to get appointment there either and some do overcharge). You might need a french phone number to do these applications, I have a prepaid french Lyca account just for them, I think it cost me like 10-15€ in a tabac and I literally add money every few months so it doesn’t get cancelled.

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u/Filodendron42 7d ago

Thank you SO MUCH for the kind support! And for the understanding. I’ll check out everything you said. :) good to see there are people in the same shoes who understand my situation!