{"id":4990,"date":"2022-10-27T22:18:42","date_gmt":"2022-10-27T22:18:42","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.mc-expatriation.com\/?page_id=4990"},"modified":"2026-09-02T06:53:59","modified_gmt":"2026-09-02T06:53:59","slug":"find-doctor","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.mc-expatriation.com\/en\/living-in-andorra\/health-system\/find-doctor\/","title":{"rendered":"How to find your family doctor in Andorra: procedures and practical advice"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Moving to Andorra means discovering a healthcare system that does not work exactly like the French system. Among the first terms you are likely to come across is \u201cmetge referent\u201d<\/strong>, which can be compared to a family doctor or primary care physician in France. The principle is fairly straightforward: your family doctor becomes your main point of contact for routine medical care and supports you throughout your healthcare journey. In practice, questions quickly arise. How do you choose your doctor? Is it easy to find a French-speaking practitioner? How do you register your family doctor? Can you change doctors? What role does CASS play in reimbursements? Here is what you need to know to handle these procedures with greater peace of mind.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

What is a \u201cmetge referent\u201d in Andorra?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

The metge referent is the doctor who provides a patient\u2019s primary medical care within the Andorran healthcare system. For a French person moving to the Principality, comparing the role to that of a family doctor can be helpful, even though the two systems are not exactly the same.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Your family doctor can provide general medical consultations, monitor your health over time, centralise relevant information from your medical records and refer you to a specialist or for additional tests when your medical situation requires it. The benefits go beyond administrative procedures. Having a healthcare professional who knows your medical history, treatments and health developments makes it easier to ensure continuity of care, which can be particularly important after moving abroad.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

If you are arriving from France, Spain or another country while undergoing treatment, remember to bring the medical documents that are genuinely useful: recent prescriptions, hospital discharge reports, important test results and the contact details of your previous doctors. This means you will not have to reconstruct your medical history from memory during your first consultation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The family doctor also plays a role in the coordinated healthcare pathway in Andorra. Following this pathway may affect how CASS reimbursements are handled. It is therefore advisable to check the rules that apply to your situation before consulting a specialist directly.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

How to choose your family doctor in Andorra?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

The best family doctor is not necessarily the one with the closest practice or the name that appears most often in expat groups. Above all, you should choose a practitioner with whom you can communicate easily and establish long-term medical care.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Language is naturally an important consideration. Catalan is the official language of Andorra, while Spanish is widely spoken. Some doctors also speak French or English. When explaining pain, a medical history or the effects of a treatment, being able to express yourself accurately is much more important than it may seem. If you are specifically looking for a French-speaking doctor in Andorra, check directly with the practice which languages can be used during consultations. Information found on a forum or in an outdated directory may no longer be accurate.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Location is also important. Andorra is a small country, but travel and road conditions can make proximity particularly convenient when consultations become regular. A practice located in Andorra la Vella or Escaldes-Engordany may be convenient for some people, while a doctor based in La Massana, Encamp, Ordino or another parish may be more suitable for others.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Availability should also be taken into consideration. Before making your choice, you can ask the practice whether it is currently accepting new patients, what the usual waiting times are for an appointment and how urgent requests are handled.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Finally, check that the practitioner can actually act as a metge referent within the relevant contracted healthcare system. For this point, it is better to rely on directories and information provided by the relevant Andorran authorities than on recommendations posted on social media.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Where can you find a doctor in Andorra?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

For a reliable search, official sources should be your first point of reference. CASS, Andorran healthcare services and professional medical organisations can help you verify information about healthcare professionals and how the healthcare pathway works.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Recommendations from other residents can then complement your research. They can provide useful information that is difficult to find in a directory, such as how easy it is to communicate with the practice, which languages are actually used during consultations or how appointments are organised.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

However, it is important to distinguish personal experience from reliable medical or administrative information. A doctor appreciated by one person will not necessarily be suitable for another, and a procedure described in an expat group two years ago may have changed since then. A good approach is to identify several practitioners using official sources, then contact the practices that match your criteria directly.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Finding a French- or English-speaking doctor in Andorra<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

For newcomers, being able to consult a doctor in their own language can make the first few months considerably easier. This is not simply a matter of comfort. In medicine, nuances can be important. Describing exactly how long a symptom has been present, explaining a side effect precisely or understanding how a treatment should be taken sometimes requires vocabulary that you may not yet have mastered in a foreign language.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

When contacting a practice, ask explicitly whether the doctor conducts consultations in French or English. It is better to ask rather than assume that a language is spoken simply because it appears on an old online profile.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n

You can also consult professional directories available in Andorra and ask French-speaking residents for recommendations. Expat communities can be a useful source of practical recommendations, provided you subsequently verify the information with the healthcare professional concerned.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

If no doctor who speaks your language is available nearby, mention your language difficulties to the practice before your appointment. This allows you to find out what solutions may be available and avoid a situation where you do not fully understand important medical information.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

How do you register your metge referent?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Once you have chosen your doctor, you need to make sure that their designation is correctly registered within the Andorran healthcare system. The exact procedures depend on your administrative situation and may change over time. Your CASS affiliation, residency status and employment situation may all be taken into account.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In practice, the simplest approach is to contact the practice of your chosen doctor and let them know that you wish to designate them as your metge referent. The practice's administrative staff can explain the applicable procedure and the documents you will need. Keep your identity documents and information relating to your CASS affiliation readily available. Depending on your situation, additional supporting documents may be required.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

However, avoid preparing your application solely on the basis of a list found on a blog or forum. Administrative procedures can change. The exact list of required documents and any form that may be needed should be confirmed at the time of your application with the doctor or CASS.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Can you change your family doctor in Andorra?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Choosing a doctor is not necessarily a permanent decision. Moving house, changes in your schedule, communication difficulties or simply the desire to be treated by another healthcare professional may lead you to change your family doctor.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

If you are considering making this change, contact CASS directly to find out about the procedure currently in place. It is advisable to check that the change has been properly registered before considering your new healthcare pathway to be effective.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

From a medical perspective, remember to ensure continuity of your medical records. If you are being treated for a chronic condition or take regular medication, provide your new doctor with the information they need to manage your care and ask how the relevant medical documents can be transferred.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

What reimbursement can you get with a metge referent?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

CASS is at the heart of Andorra's social security system and is responsible for reimbursing part of the healthcare expenses incurred by affiliated individuals. The level of reimbursement can depend significantly on the type of care, the healthcare professional consulted, your personal circumstances and whether you follow the established healthcare pathway.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Before seeing a specialist, undergoing an expensive examination or having a planned hospital stay, check the coverage conditions that apply to your situation. Your family doctor, CASS and, where applicable, your supplementary health insurance provider are the people to contact first.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

You should also distinguish between the amount charged, the amount reimbursed and the actual amount you have to pay yourself. These are three different figures that are often confused when comparing the Andorran and French healthcare systems.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Do you need supplementary health insurance in Andorra?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Being covered by CASS does not necessarily mean that all medical expenses will be fully covered. Depending on your status and healthcare needs, supplementary health insurance can cover some or all of the costs that remain your responsibility. However, the value of such a policy depends on your personal circumstances, your CASS coverage and the benefits included in the policy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Before taking out a policy, carefully review the exclusions, coverage limits, waiting periods and reimbursement conditions. Check whether it covers the types of healthcare you may actually need rather than focusing solely on the monthly cost of the policy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

For anyone preparing to move to Andorra, insurance should ideally be considered before relocating. Coverage requirements may vary depending on the type of residency or administrative status being sought.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In this area, the insurer's contractual terms and official information provided by the Andorran authorities remain the most reliable sources.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Where can you receive medical care in Andorra?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Andorra has primary care and hospital facilities capable of dealing with routine medical needs as well as situations requiring specialised care.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Centres d\u2019Atenci\u00f3 Prim\u00e0ria (primary healthcare centres), generally known by the abbreviation CAP, provide local healthcare services. The Hospital Nostra Senyora de Meritxell, meanwhile, is the Principality's main hospital.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Your family doctor generally remains the right person to contact when you need guidance through this system. Depending on your medical situation, they can determine whether you need to see a specialist or undergo additional tests.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In an emergency, of course, do not prioritise administrative procedures over your health. Use the appropriate emergency services and the official emergency numbers currently in force in Andorra. Since emergency contact details are safety-critical information, always verify them through an official institutional source.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Preparing for your first appointment with an Andorran doctor<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

The first appointment is often the one that requires the most preparation, particularly when you have recently left the healthcare system of another country. Before your consultation, gather the medical documents that are genuinely important. If you are undergoing treatment, bring your prescriptions and make a note of the names and dosages of your medications. If you have recently undergone surgery, been hospitalised or had medical tests, the corresponding reports may be useful.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Also prepare the key details of your personal and family medical history, any known allergies and the contact details of the healthcare professionals who previously treated you. There is no need to arrive with several years' worth of unsorted documents. A few relevant, well-organised pieces of information will be much more useful to your doctor than an accumulation of medical records.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This is also a good opportunity to ask how the practice operates: how appointments are booked, how prescriptions are renewed, how test results are shared, how referrals to specialists are handled and what to do if a problem occurs outside normal opening hours. This first consultation is therefore as much about getting to know each other as it is about laying the foundations for consistent medical care.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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