The French health care system was rated #1 by the World Health Organization in 2007, while the USA ranked 37th (lowest among developed countries)

here are some more stats from a 2007 Business Week article.

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France's infant death rate is 3.9 per 1,000 live births, compared with 7 in the U.S., and average life expectancy is 79.4 years, two years more than in the U.S. The country has far more hospital beds and doctors per capita than America, and far lower rates of death from diabetes and heart disease. The difference in deaths from respiratory disease, an often preventable form of mortality, is particularly striking: 31.2 per 100,000 people in France, vs. 61.5 per 100,000 in the U.S.
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Here are some differences
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But the french system is much more generous to its entire population than the U.S. is to its seniors. Unlike with Medicare, there are no deductibles, just modest co- payments that are dismissed for the chronically ill. Additionally, almost all French buy supplemental insurance, similar to Medigap, which reduces their out-of-pocket costs and covers extra expenses such as private hospital rooms, eyeglasses, and dental care.
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In fact the more I read this article the whole thing explains your question, check it out. I added some other articles too
Source(s):
http://www.businessweek.com/magazine/content/07_28/b4042070.htm
http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/9994.php
http://abcnews.go.com/Health/Story?id=4647483&page=1

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