The Deloitte barometer reveals the attachment of the French to their health system. They are however ready for changes.
A few weeks before the presidential election where health issues occupy an important place, the audit and consulting firm Deloitte questioned the French on their expectations vis-à-vis the health system (1).
While they display their overall satisfaction, many nonetheless perceive the limits and challenges ahead. Indeed, while the safety of care is at the top of their reasons for satisfaction (82%), accessibility remains difficult, mainly because of the cost for 48% of French people and 69% of those with the lowest incomes. (2).
System tops and flops
Another cause of concern for our fellow citizens, aging and dependence. “Aging better” is a strongly emerging trend, expressed in particular by the desire for better support for dependent people. 9 out of 10 French people consider that it is “essential” or “important” to improve it.
“Faced with these challenges, the French are aware of the need to reform the health system. They favor prevention and the empowerment of social policyholders, ”comments Michel Sebbane, Public Health and Social Sector Consulting partner at Deloitte.
In figures, 57% of those questioned, for example, are in favor of adjusting reimbursements according to lifestyle and risky behavior. However, this paradigm shift finds only opponents among experts in the French health system, a survey by Why actor (see banner below).
The French highlight the “small risk”
To allow a rebalancing of the Health Insurance accounts, a significant part of the French (36%) also think that the reimbursements should vary according to the income of the insured.
But above all, half of them would support a refocusing of reimbursements by Social Security on serious pathologies and long-term ailments (high risk), while light care would be covered by private insurance (small risk).
This proposal was for a time defended by François Fillon during the primary of the right and the center. But the 2017 presidential candidate has since given up in the face of the outcry she sparked. The disapproval of this measure even came from his own camp in the person of Dr. Jean Leonetti, his current health spokesperson, formerly the support of Alain Juppé.
Complements must do more
Regarding the complementary, we finally note that 90% of French say they are now affiliated to complementary health. They say they expect more from the latter, in particular that they help them pay for the most expensive care: optical, dental, acoustic. And nearly one in four French people has taken out additional coverage following the entry into force of the so-called responsible contracts within the framework of thenational interprofessional agreement (ANI).
“Faced with the significant increase in out-of-pocket expenses and the high expectations in terms of reform of the health system, complementary services have an essential role to play in the prevention and management of dependency, in a digital environment. and with traditional players who remain privileged and trusted interlocutors, ”concludes Jean-François Poletti, Insurance Consulting Partner at Deloitte.
(1) The study “The French and health” was carried out by OpinionWay for Deloitte. It was carried out on a sample of 2,013 people, representative of the French population aged 18 or over. The interviews were carried out by self-administered online questionnaire. They took place over the period of February 10-16, 2017.
(2) Household income less than 1,000 euros per month
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