Take the town I was living near with a sizeable population of about 5,000 and just two doctors. There is one secretary who will book you in for an appointment either the same day or the day after. You wait in the waiting room and see the doctor, I should say eventually, and after your extensive consultation you pay him 22, of which you will get back 65% from the Social Security. You can get the whole lot back if you have a or top up health insurance. If you get some eventually terminal illness like cancer and the doctor may decide that you pay nothing related to that disease. On the other hand a is essential for paying for medicines, where again, you pay the top 35% and only get that back if you have the insurance top up. I know that the French Health Budget is creaking somewhat like the English but it does seem fairer that the patient should pay a proportion. Official https://frenchmart.fr/ Website