France Health insurance

the national system of health insurance instituted in 1945, after end of second world war. compromise between gaullist , communist representatives in french parliament. conservative gaullists opposed state-run healthcare system, while communists supportive of complete nationalisation of health care along british beveridge model.

the resulting programme profession-based: people working required pay portion of income not-for-profit health insurance fund, mutualises risk of illness, , reimburses medical expenses @ varying rates. children , spouses of insured people eligible benefits, well. each fund free manage own budget, , used reimburse medical expenses @ rate saw fit, following number of reforms in recent years, majority of funds provide same level of reimbursement , benefits.

the government has 2 responsibilities in system.

the first government responsibility fixing of rate @ medical expenses should negotiated, , in 2 ways: ministry of health directly negotiates prices of medicine manufacturers, based on average price of sale observed in neighboring countries. board of doctors , experts decides if medicine provides valuable enough medical benefit reimbursed (note medicine reimbursed, including homeopathy). in parallel, government fixes reimbursement rate medical services: means doctor free charge fee wishes consultation or examination, social security system reimburse @ pre-set rate. these tariffs set annually through negotiation doctors representative organisations.
the second government responsibility oversight of health-insurance funds, ensure correctly managing sums receive, , ensure oversight of public hospital network.

today, system more or less intact. citizens , legal foreign residents of france covered 1 of these mandatory programs, continue funded worker participation. however, since 1945, number of major changes have been introduced. firstly, different health care funds (there five: general, independent, agricultural, student, public servants) reimburse @ same rate. secondly, since 2000, government provides health care not covered mandatory regime (those have never worked , not students, meaning rich or poor). regime, unlike worker-financed ones, financed via general taxation , reimburses @ higher rate profession-based system cannot afford make difference. finally, counter rise in health care costs, government has installed 2 plans, (in 2004 , 2006), require insured people declare referring doctor in order reimbursed specialist visits, , installed mandatory co-pay of 1 € (about $1.45) doctor visit, 0,50 € (about 80¢) each box of medicine prescribed, , fee of 16–18 € ($20–25) per day hospital stays , expensive procedures.

an important element of french insurance system solidarity: more ill person becomes, less person pays. means people serious or chronic illnesses, insurance system reimburses them 100% of expenses, , waives co-pay charges.

finally, fees mandatory system not cover, there large range of private complementary insurance plans available. market these programs competitive, , subsidised employer, means premiums modest. 85% of french people benefit complementary private health insurance.