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HEALTH

Attempted cyber-attack delays healthcare reimbursements in France

If you feel that you have been waiting longer than normal for your latest healthcare reimbursement, this might be due to attempts to hack La Poste.

Published: 6 May 2022 11:40 CEST
Attempted cyber-attack delays healthcare reimbursements in France
Photo by DENIS CHARLET / AFP

Since April 27th, French postal service company, La Poste, has temporarily suspended external access to its messaging service. This has impacted more than 20,000 health professionals who rely on the service to communicate reimbursements to Social Security.

Healthcare in France works on a reimbursement system – you pay the doctor or pharmacist upfront and then some or all of the cost is reimbursed directly into your bank account using your carte vitale health card.

Usually the reimbursement takes just a few days, but the suspension of the La Poste messaging service means that requests for reimbursement have not been getting through.

So far La Poste has not provided a date for full restoration of its services, although it says it hopes for a partial restoration by next week.

After noticing that cybercriminals were trying to access it, the organisation temporarily deactivated access to its external platforms, including for the tens of thousands of people who use @laposte.net e-mail address.

When trying to send electronic forms, healthcare workers are instead met with error messages. There is also a paper form which can be used instead, but the electronic version typically shortens the wait for reimbursements.

Patients who are waiting for reimbursements do not need to take any action, but should be aware that the reimbursement might take longer than normal.

La Poste has confirmed the problem, saying “this measure has been taken for security reasons” and that it will be “for an indefinite period.” They asked that users access their accounts by going directly through La Poste’s website or its downloadable application.

La Poste also says it is “aware of the particular difficulties encountered by health professionals” and assures users that they are prioritising the restoration of services for them specifically.

They hope to see a gradual restoration of services from next Monday, but full restoration will take several days.

So far, La Poste has not reported any successful hacks or data leaks to French data protection agency, CNIL.

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CYCLING

Why you should take up cycling in France in May

'Mai à vélo' is a month-long, government-backed scheme intended to encourage people in France to choose cycling over other modes of transportation.

Published: 16 April 2024 11:42 CEST
Why you should take up cycling in France in May

In hopes of getting more people to cycle, the ‘Mai à vélo’ will offer thousands of cycling events and ‘challenges’ across France from May 1st to 31st.

The scheme began in 2020 and has been supported by the French ministries of environment and sports, with the goal of encouraging carbon-free forms of transportation.

In 2023, there were over 4,000 Mai à vélo events, with over 100,000 people participating in the activity challenges.

What types of events will there be?

From workshops to learn how to repair your own bicycle to group rides and bicycle exchanges, there will be plenty of different types of events across the country. 

They can be hosted by schools, businesses, local authorities, associations and even just groups of friends. 

If you are interested in hosting your own event, you will first need to make an account and register your plans. 

To find events near you, check out the interactive ‘Mai à vélo’ map.

Screenshot from the Mai à vélo website

Cycling on the rise

France, and particularly the city of Paris, have invested more into bike lanes over the last few years.

The study by the Institut Paris Region, an urban planning agency, found that more Parisians were opting for bicycles (accounting for 11.2 percent of trips) than cars (4.3 percent of trips). 

READ MORE: How France will splash another €250 million on national ‘bike plan’

Walking was still the most common option (53.5 percent), followed by public transport at 30 percent.

Nevertheless – Paris launched its first ‘plan vélo’ in 2015 and its second phase started in 2021, with a budget of €180 million and the goal of making France’s capital ‘100 percent bicycle-friendly by 2026’.

On top of that, during the 2024 Olympic Games, the city will offer over 415 kilometres of bicycle lanes, plus thousands of new parking stations across the city and nearby Games venues. You can download the map of bicycle lanes on the Anticiper les jeux website.

Grants for purchasing a bicycle in France

The French government opted to extend their bonus vélo grant to 2027, in an effort to encourage non-polluting transport options.

Previously, the aid was only available to those buying new bikes, but in 2024 authorities opened it up to second-hand bicycles under certain conditions.

While it is means-tested, the financial aid is open to non-French nationals (though you must be resident in France and have a tax number in order to access the grants).

Depending on your financial situation and the bicycle you want to purchase, you may be eligible for assistance varying between €150 and €2,000.

If eligible, you can use it for plenty of different types of bicycles – from standard and electric bikes to cargo bikes, plus those adapted for people with disabilities.

READ MORE: Explained: The financial aid to buy a bike in France

Where should I cycle in France?

If affordable bicycles and fun events are not enough to entice you, perhaps you will be convinced by the dozens of beautiful bicycle routes criss-crossing the country and the warm, spring weather.

For example – you might consider the ‘Voie des Vignes’ cycle path which goes from Beaune to Santenay to Nolay.

The 22km Voie des Vignes (Way of the Vines) meanders its gentle way along vineyard paths, crossing the Unesco World Heritage-listed Climats of Burgundy.

There is also the Vallée du Loir cycle path, which is a 330 km track (the V47) that starts at the source of the river between Beauce and Perche and ends of the banks of Loire at Angers, passing by a fair share of castles.

READ MORE: 13 of France’s best hiking and cycling routes

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