Topic C
Cost of healthcare abroad: what the country-by-country comparison shows
The same procedure — a simple GP visit — can cost ten times more from one country to another, or be entirely free under an accessible public system: see why healthcare systems vary so much. This country-by-country figure makes concrete what CFE doesn’t cover and why insurance plays a different role depending on the destination.
General-practitioner visit, country by country
Figures taken as published and sourced on each country page (official or specialised source specific to each destination, with its own verification date) — click a country for the full detail and sources.
| Country | General-practitioner visit |
|---|---|
| Thailand | Public sector: ≈€8-26 · Private sector: ≈€21-135 |
| United Arab Emirates | ≈150-500 AED (private sector, no accessible public sector) |
| Canada | CAD 62.27 (public non-insured rate, Quebec) |
| Portugal | Free for a resident registered with the SNS · €40-70 privately |
| Switzerland | CHF 100-150 (before deductible and LAMal co-payment) |
| United Kingdom | Free at the point of use (NHS, resident) · £25-500 privately |
| Belgium (French) | €26.50-32.84 (negotiated rate, co-payment ≈€4-6) |
| Spain | Free for an affiliated resident · ≈€60 privately |
| Germany | ≈€10.72 at the base rate, €35-76 in practice (GoÄ) |
| Morocco | 150-300 MAD (≈€14-28, private sector) |
| United States | $150-500 (no regulated rate) |
| Australia | AUD 80-120 or more (private clinic) |
Three possible readings of the same table
- In a country where public access is free for an affiliated resident (United Kingdom, Portugal, Spain), the real issue isn’t the price of a visit but the time it takes to obtain that affiliation, and what stays outside the public system (dental, optical, repatriation).
- In a country where foreigners have no access to the public sector (Thailand, United Arab Emirates), the price shown is the real price paid — with no “social” rate to compare it against.
- In a country with no regulated rate (United States), the gap between insured and uninsured patients can be considerable for a heavier procedure than a simple visit — see the country page for the detail by procedure.
What CFE doesn’t change about this table
CFE reimburses on a French reference rate, not on the price shown here, whatever the country — see how CFE reimbursements are calculated. The bigger the gap between the French rate and the local price in this table, the more a top-up plan designed for living abroad genuinely changes the bill.
See the full detail (hospitalisation, emergencies, MRI…) for your destination: All country pages
Written by Expavy