The French are generally well reimbursed for their health expenses, but the remaining costs remain more burdensome for the poorest French people, according to a study by the WHO (World Health Organization) published Tuesday.
The rest charged to the French for their health expenses is the lowest in Europe, around 9%, according to the 2021 figure appearing in the WHO study. But even if it is low, this remaining burden could be better distributed throughout the population, notes the WHO.
Thus, 2.1% of French people (around 800,000 people) have suffered a remaining charge called catastrophic, that is to say severely reducing their disposable income after basic necessity expenses (housing/heating/food), according to the 2017 figures cited by the study. However, Slovenia, Ireland, Sweden, the United Kingdom and Spain achieve an even lower percentage, notes the study.
The study also notes that 9% of the most disadvantaged households (households in the first consumption quintile) were hit by these catastrophic out-of-pocket expenses, as were 10% of households whose head of household was unemployed, or 5% of parent households. isolated.
An annual ceiling on remaining charges depending on income?
The report notes that France has since taken important measures to strengthen the financial protection of social insurance, notably with the 100% Sant, implemented from 2018. But it could go further in favor of the poorest, in particular by setting A annual ceiling on remaining chargeswhich depends on household income, he suggests.
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