The spa treatment for people in long Covid is interested in all the symptoms which persist beyond 3 months after the infection: shortness of breath, fatigue, pain, anomaly of the senses… What are the treatments offered, their benefits, price ?
More and more people are complaining of prolonged Covid symptoms after being infected with the virus. To relieve them, hydrotherapy centers develop different cure programs according to the ailments of each one.
The spa cure for long Covid is potentially aimed at the 2 million people in France* who would be affected by a post-Covid condition with digestive disordersof the skin problems (chilblains, skin pruritus, urticaria), “symptoms of general tirednessexertional fatigue, breathing difficulties (shortness of breath, cough), psychological disorders persistent more than 3 months after infection (mental fog, anxiety, low self-esteem), memory loss, sensory disorders. Knowing that the loss of smell is permanent after 18 months, and that it causes the alteration of taste. These people also suffer from muscle, respiratory and/or joint pain.“says Dr Hubert Bigot, ENT doctor at the thermal baths of Saint-Gervais Mont Blanc. In addition to physical symptoms, these people feel isolated, misunderstood because most of the symptoms are invisible and can evolve in a fluctuating way. By recognizing their difficulties, these people regain hope with the conviction that there is a solution to get better. Women would be more affected than men.
Thermal water treatments (bath, shower, jet, pool) repeated every day during the cure, improve physical and mental condition post-Covid spa guests. “In physiotherapy session, the work on patients in long Covid is composed of manual massages under water or with water jets on muscle contractures, but also a work of manual massage of the lumbar and cervical, before practice respiratory physio in order to work on oppression that these patients feel and on the pulmonary fibrosis created by Covid. Relieve these symptoms and provide a general state of relaxation allow you to breathe better“says Johann Banon, physiotherapist at the thermal baths of Saint-Gervais Mont Blanc. “The long Covid brings up any symptom: stiffness in the legs, in the back… we have to adapt to each patient” concluded the physiotherapist. The observed benefits:
- Soothe all muscular, respiratory and joint disorders.
- Restore confidence in the physical abilities of the body.
- Relax physically and psychologically.
- Improve sleep.
- Reduce the state of physical and mental fatigue.
- Reduce shortness of breath.
- Improve mobility.
Several thermal establishments in France offer a cure or a short “Post-Covid” or “Covid long” stay. We quote:
- Aix-les-Bains in Savoy
- Allevard-les-Bains in Isère.
- Brides-les-Bains in Savoy.
- La Bourboule in Puy-de-Dome.
- Molitg-les-Bains in the Pyrénées-Orientales
- Saint-Gervais Mont Blanc in Haute-Savoie
- Saujon in Charente-Maritime.
The “Covid long” spa treatment is on the initiative of thermal establishments which have chosen to meet a need of the population in post-covid “in medical wandering”. These establishments offer their care program in approved cure of 18 days with therapeutic orientations “respiratory tract” and/or “dermatology” in emphasizing respiratory physiotherapy care. The spa stay is also possible over a week or more without agreed therapeutic orientation. The approved respiratory tract and/or dermatology cure with the Covid long option consists of surrounding the person with numerous specialties to allow him to regain energy and take care of himself in the long term. Each patient consults an ENT doctor, a dermatologist, a physiotherapist. It is followed by the thermal care staff (baths, jets, application of clay), a dietician, a sophrologist, an adapted physical activity coach, sometimes a beautician who take turns and adapt to each person’s symptoms and needs. In view of results on their patients in “Covid-long” treatment the thermal baths of Saint-Gervais Mont Blanc have decided to continue to improve the care program offered to these patients, by developing an olfactory workshop (for those who suffer from anosmia), by integrating a consultation in psychology, and by creating a program over 12 days instead of 9 days. This free cure costs 989 euros excluding accommodation.
Nowadays, long Covid spa programs are not covered by Social Security. However, there are two scenarios for carrying out a “long Covid” cure:
► In 18-day agreed cure : The 18-day post-Covid program is associated with a spa treatment whose orientation is “respiratory tract / ENT”, or “dermatology”, or the double orientation “respiratory tract / ENT and dermatology”. The flat rate for an 18-day thermal cure (of treatments), 21 days in all, is the same in all thermal establishments. Spa treatments are part of a cure approved by Social Security. The rest of the care of the long Covid cure remains payable (dietician, sophrology, sports coach, etc.) and their amounts may vary from one establishment to another. For example, it is 689 euros (excluding accommodation and transport) in 2023 at the thermal baths of Saint-Gervais Mont Blanc.
► Cure less than 18 days not agreed : When the spa treatment is less than 18 days, it is not refunded. The 12-day program (with spa treatments not covered by Social Security) will cost for example /
- 989 euros excluding accommodation at the thermal baths of Saint-Gervais Mont Blanc.
- 725 euros at the Allevard thermal baths for 6 days.
- 260 euros at the thermal baths of Saujon for an optional course of an 18-day cure.
On the other hand, ENT treatments and physiotherapy sessions can be covered and reimbursed as long as they are prescribed.
The “Covid long” spa treatments are, like the other curescovered by Social Security when prescribed by a doctor, treating or specialist, according to a standardized care grid adapted to each pathology, within the framework of one of the two orientations “respiratory tract / ENT”, or “dermatology”. Or the double orientation “respiratory tract/ENT and dermatology”. THE thermal package of 80 euros for the three follow-up consultations of the patient’s pathology is reimbursed up to 70% by health insurance. Spa treatments are covered at 65% of the flat rate. The remainder can be partially reimbursed by complementary health insurance. Subject to means testing, transport and accommodation costs may be covered in part by health insurance or by personal mutual insurance. Only one spa treatment can be reimbursed per year and per patient.
*figure given by a study by Public Health France in July 2022.
Thanks to Dr Hubert Bigot, ENT doctor at the thermal baths of Saint-Gervais Mont Blanc, and to Johann Banon, physiotherapist at the thermal baths of Saint-Gervais Mont Blanc.