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Health

Children's health in San Francisco

In the United States, everything starts with insurance: it decides the paediatrician, the hospital and what you will pay yourself. Once properly covered, the family has access to two of the country's best children's hospitals, UCSF and Stanford. Here are the essentials, checked against official websites and the consulate's list of practitioners.

Verified on 30 October 2026

How health insurance works

No universal social security and no Carte Vitale: each family has private insurance, almost always provided by the employer, with its own network of doctors and reimbursement rules.

Good to know

  • The consulate reminds expatriate or seconded employees to check with their employer what insurance the contract includes, and that local health insurance does not necessarily cover repatriation. Source
  • California has required its residents to be insured since 2020; without coverage, a penalty is added to state tax. Source
  • Without employer insurance, Covered California is the state's official marketplace; moving to California opens a special enrolment period, on top of the annual open enrolment that starts on 1 November. Source
  • Children can stay on their parents' insurance until age 26, even if married or financially independent. Source
  • Three words to master: the network (in-network, otherwise you pay much more), the annual deductible and the copay at each visit. With an HMO you go through your primary doctor to see a specialist; with a PPO access is freer but costs more.

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Finding a paediatrician and preparing health records

Here the paediatrician is the children's family doctor until adolescence. Good practices are in demand: look for one in your insurer's directory before you even arrive.

Good to know

  • Choose an in-network paediatrician (the insurer's 'Find a doctor' tab), check they accept new patients and book a first check-up (well-child visit), recommended every year until 19. Source
  • Bring the French health booklet and a translation of the vaccine pages: the paediatrician transfers them to the California school immunisation record (the 'Blue Card'), required by all schools. Source
  • For San Francisco public schools you also need a tuberculosis risk clearance signed by a health examiner, and an oral health assessment by 31 May of the kindergarten year. Source
  • The physical exam for entering kindergarten or first grade has no longer been required since 1 July 2024, but it is still strongly recommended. Source
  • No paediatrician currently appears on the consulate's list: many families choose an English-speaking in-network paediatrician and keep a French-speaking GP or therapist for the rest. Source

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Emergencies and children's hospitals

For a life-threatening emergency, 911. For everything else, a paediatric urgent care clinic saves hours of waiting and a very high hospital ER bill.

Good to know

  • In an emergency, call 911, which sends an ambulance or fire crew. The consulate recommends always carrying your insurance card and blood group. Source
  • Poisoning (medicine, household product, plant): the California Poison Control System answers 24/7 on 1-800-222-1222. Source
  • UCSF's children's emergency departments in San Francisco and Oakland are for children only, with teams trained in paediatric emergency medicine on site 24/7, 365 days a year. Source
  • For fever, an ear infection or a minor injury, UCSF's paediatric urgent care clinics in San Francisco and Berkeley have paediatricians on site and open in the evening. Mental health crisis: 988, 24/7. Source

Addresses

  • UCSF Benioff Children's Hospital San Francisco, urgences pédiatriques

    Emergency

    1975 Fourth Street, Mission Bay, San Francisco, CA 94158

    Children-only emergency department, open 24/7, on the Mission Bay campus.

    Website Source

  • UCSF Benioff Children's Hospital Oakland, urgences pédiatriques

    Emergency

    747 52nd Street, Oakland, CA 94609

    Level 1 paediatric trauma centre, for East Bay families.

    Website Source

  • Marc and Laura Andreessen Pediatric Emergency Department (Stanford)

    Emergency

    900 Quarry Road Extension, Palo Alto, CA

    Children's emergency department next to Lucile Packard Children's Hospital, the only Level 1 paediatric trauma centre between San Francisco and the South Bay; interpreters in 200 languages.

    Website Source

  • Zuckerberg San Francisco General Hospital and Trauma Center

    Hospital

    1001 Potrero Avenue, San Francisco, CA 94110

    The city's public hospital and trauma centre: emergency care for adults and children.

    Website Source

  • CPMC Emergency, Van Ness Campus (Sutter Health)

    Hospital

    1101 Van Ness Avenue, San Francisco, CA 94109

    Emergency department of the large private hospital downtown, handy from Pacific Heights, Nob Hill or the Marina.

    Website Source

  • UCSF Pediatric Urgent Care San Francisco

    Emergency

    Paediatric urgent care with paediatricians on site and evening hours, for anything that is not life-threatening.

    Website Source

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French-speaking doctors, dentists and therapists

The French consulate general in San Francisco publishes a list of French-speaking doctors in Northern California (2026 edition). It is provided for information only, without engaging the administration's responsibility, and the choice of doctor is free. We list the Bay Area practitioners; always check they are in your insurance network.

Good to know

  • The list covers GPs, psychotherapists and psychologists, dentists, a speech therapist, an orthoptist and an obstetrician; it includes no paediatrician. Separate lists exist for Oregon, Washington State, Nevada, Utah, Idaho, Montana and Hawaii. Source
  • These practitioners work privately or within large networks (UCSF in particular): reimbursement depends entirely on your insurance, so check before the first appointment.
  • The directories of French-language media (French District Northern California, French Morning, lepetitjournal.com San Francisco) complement the list with professionals who register themselves. Source

Addresses

  • Dr Catherine Collins

    General practitioner

    Pacific Heights, San Francisco (CA 94115)

    General practitioner.

    Languages spoken : FR, EN

    Source

  • Dr Kenneth B. Maybury

    General practitioner

    Lower Pacific Heights, San Francisco (CA 94115)

    General practitioner.

    Languages spoken : FR, EN

    Source

  • Dr Julie Brichard

    General practitioner

    Sloat Boulevard, San Francisco (CA 94132)

    General practitioner within the UCSF primary care network.

    Languages spoken : FR, EN

    Source

  • Dr Jean-François Luong

    General practitioner

    San Jose (CA 95128)

    General practitioner, for South Bay families.

    Languages spoken : FR, EN

    Source

  • Dr Thomas Zurfluh

    Psychologist

    Pacific Heights, San Francisco (CA 94115)

    Psychoanalyst and neuropsychologist: neuropsychological assessments for children, adolescents and adults.

    Languages spoken : FR, EN

    Source

  • Dr Martine Aniel

    Psychologist

    Hayes Valley, San Francisco (CA 94102)

    Therapist and psychoanalyst.

    Languages spoken : FR, EN

    Source

  • Adélaïde Fulconis

    Psychologist

    Hayes Valley, San Francisco (CA 94102) et San Rafael (CA 94903)

    Licensed marriage and family therapist (LMFT), in San Francisco and Marin County.

    Languages spoken : FR, EN

    Source

  • Dr Julie Bass

    Psychologist

    Oakland (CA 94609)

    Psychologist and psychotherapist for children, adolescents and adults.

    Languages spoken : FR, EN

    Source

  • Dr Elsa Gueziec

    Psychologist

    Los Altos (CA 94024)

    Psychotherapist (LMFT): individual therapy for adults and adolescents, couples therapy.

    Languages spoken : FR, EN

    Source

  • Pierre Vilanoba

    Psychologist

    Lafayette (CA 94549)

    Psychotherapist, in the East Bay.

    Languages spoken : FR, EN

    Website Source

  • Dr Aref El Natour

    Dentist

    Outer Richmond, San Francisco (CA 94121)

    General dentist, endodontics, Invisalign and implants.

    Languages spoken : FR, EN

    Website Source

  • Dr Ratna Jain et Dr Jérôme Stroumza

    Dentist

    Laurel Heights, San Francisco (CA 94118)

    Dental practice: general and cosmetic dentistry and Invisalign (Dr Jain), endodontics and implants (Dr Stroumza).

    Languages spoken : FR, EN

    Website Source

  • Dr Feriel El Ghaoui

    Dentist

    Pinole (CA 94564)

    Dental surgeon, in the East Bay.

    Languages spoken : FR, EN

    Website Source

  • Amandine Guinard

    Palo Alto (CA 94301) et San Carlos (CA 94070)

    Orthoptist.

    Languages spoken : FR, EN

    Source

  • Dr Véronique Taché

    Maternity

    Sacramento (CA 95819)

    Obstetrician specialising in maternal-fetal medicine (high-risk pregnancies), UC Davis.

    Languages spoken : FR, EN

    Source

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Pregnancy and maternity units

Pregnancy follow-up is done by an in-network obstetrician-gynaecologist (OB-GYN) or certified nurse-midwife, and they determine the hospital where you will give birth: check which maternity unit your insurance covers from the start.

Good to know

  • There is no paid federal maternity leave: in California, State Disability Insurance (SDI) usually pays from 4 weeks before the due date and 6 weeks after the birth (8 after a caesarean). Source
  • After that, the state's Paid Family Leave pays up to 8 weeks of benefits over 12 months to each parent to bond with the baby. Source
  • A child born locally must be registered with the consulate (transcription of the birth certificate) to get French papers; birth in the United States also gives them US citizenship. Source
  • Maternity units offer tours and antenatal classes: sign up early, and add the baby to your insurance within 30 days of birth (the usual employer deadline, check your plan).

Addresses

  • UCSF Birth Center, Betty Irene Moore Women's Hospital

    Maternity

    1855 4th Street, Mission Bay, San Francisco, CA 94158

    Private rooms, midwives, neonatology and the UCSF children's hospital next door; tubs in the labour rooms.

    Website Source

  • CPMC Birth Center, Van Ness Campus (Sutter Health)

    Maternity

    1101 Van Ness Avenue, San Francisco, CA 94109

    Large downtown maternity unit, private rooms for labour, birth and recovery, Level III neonatal unit.

    Website Source

  • Johnson Center for Pregnancy and Newborn Services, Lucile Packard Children's Hospital Stanford

    Maternity

    725 Welch Road, Palo Alto, CA 94304

    Obstetrics, neonatology and developmental medicine together in a children's hospital: the reference for the Peninsula and Silicon Valley.

    Website Source

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Pharmacies and medicines

Pharmacies are often inside the big chains (Walgreens, CVS) or supermarkets, with a prescription counter at the back of the store. Some open late or 24/7: find the one nearest your home.

Good to know

  • Paracetamol is called acetaminophen here (Tylenol brand) and ibuprofen is sold as Advil or Motrin; for children, check the syrup concentration, which differs from French versions, and dose by weight.
  • A French prescription is not filled by a California pharmacy: you need a prescription from a US practitioner. Arrive with a few weeks' supply and a letter from your doctor (in English if possible).
  • Some medicines sold without prescription in France need one here, and vice versa: when in doubt, the pharmacist gives free advice.
  • Your insurance sets the list of covered medicines and its network pharmacy: the price of the same drug can vary a lot from one pharmacy to another.

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Vaccines: the differences with France

No school enrolment, public or private, without a complete vaccination record: California now only accepts medical exemptions. Have the record checked by the paediatrician as soon as you arrive.

Good to know

  • Personal belief or religious exemptions are no longer accepted; only valid medical exemptions, filed in the state system, are. Source
  • To enter school (TK to grade 12), children need among others 5 doses of DTaP, 4 of polio, 3 of hepatitis B, 2 of MMR and 2 of varicella. Source
  • The big difference for French children: varicella, which is not among France's compulsory vaccines, is required in two doses. Plan a catch-up with the paediatrician if your child is not vaccinated or has not had the disease. Source
  • On entering 7th grade, a Tdap booster is required on top of the two varicella doses. Source
  • Vaccines are given by the paediatrician, and flu and Covid shots often at the pharmacy; vaccines required for school remain covered by insurance in California.

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These landmarks do not replace the advice of a health professional. In an emergency, call the local emergency number shown above.

A place has closed, something has changed? Tell us: the mums of San Francisco will thank you.

Sources for this page

The public pages these landmarks come from. The official website always prevails.

  1. 1 Consulat général de France à San Francisco, liste de notoriété médicale Californie 2026
  2. 2 Consulat, en cas d'urgence
  3. 3 UCSF Benioff Children's Hospitals, urgences pédiatriques
  4. 4 Stanford Health Care, urgences pédiatriques
  5. 5 SFUSD, exigences de santé pour l'école
  6. 6 California Franchise Tax Board, obligation d'assurance santé
  7. 7 California EDD, grossesse et Paid Family Leave
  8. 8 California Poison Control System

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