Health Care in France: Recent Developments

Abstract

Health care in France falls almost exclusively under theresponsibility of the Social Security department, which coversalmost all the expenditures related to health care,whether hospitalization or medication is concerned.For severe diseases or surgery the coverage is likelyto reach as much as 100%. The medical expendituresfor several severe diseases, such as cancer, myocardialinfarction, or neurodegenerative diseases are 100% coveredfor a period of time as long as three months. For some procedures, full coverage may be achieved by usinga subscription to private health care insurance.Access to cover by the state has recently been openedto anyone living in France, after passage of a special law. There is still a lack of intensive care and hospice beds, given the rapidly increasing number of elderly who cannot be maintainedat home. There is a tendency to reduce the number ofbeds in private and public hospitals due to thegreat number of such institutions and the generalconcern that a low volume of procedures, associatedwith inexperienced health care professionals, is likelyto increase morbidity and mortality as well as publichealth care expenditure. Patients are still free tochoose doctors and hospitals (whether privateor public), provided that beds are available and thatspecific procedures can be carried out in thevicinity. So far no waiting list is needed, exceptfor specific procedures performed by a few specialists of high repute. Health care expenses are increasingcontinuously, which results in a very expensive systemin France.