Health insurance spending reached 146 billion in 2011. Among them, cardiovascular pathologies and mental health mobilize significant resources.
France, compared to other countries among the most developed, “has for several years recorded a more controlled increase in its health spending,” provides Health Insurance. However, according to the latest figures, social security continues to widen its deficit! Indeed, the sickness branch of social security would post this year a deficit of nearly 6 billion euros out of the 16.2 billion euros for the entire deficit of the Social Security. It is in this delicate context that the Canmts publishes this Tuesday its analysis of health spending for the year 2011. So what are the health problems taken care of? How many people are treated for these pathologies? why actor gives you some answers.
The most expensive pathologies hit parade
The envelope for health spending amounted to 146 billion euros in 2011. With two thirds of this spending (92 billion euros) “the major burden of heavy and chronic pathologies (…) is confirmed”, notes the Cnamts.
Among them, cardiovascular pathologies represent 10% of total health insurance expenditure. If we add the treatments for cardiovascular risk factors (diabetes, arterial hypertension, hyperlipidemia), the amount reaches € 30.2 billion.
Amount of reimbursed expenses per pathology in billions of euros (2011)
Source: Health insurance
Mental pathologies represent the other major item of expenditure: 22.6 billion euros. This term nevertheless covers health problems of various kinds, specifies the document. Psychiatric pathologies, for which a diagnosis can be established and whose severity has motivated hospitalization or long-term care (ALD), represent € 14.1 billion.
Listen to Dominique Polton, dDirector of Studies and Statistics at Health Insurance: “The 8 billion of the remaining mental health spending does not correspond to psychiatric pathologies but to a fraction of the fragile population who are prescribed psychotropic drugs at least three times a year… “
In addition, one-off hospitalizations, unrelated to a chronic pathology such as cancer, cardiovascular or respiratory pathology, represent 29.9 billion euros in reimbursements, or more than 20% of total expenditure. The most frequent reasons for recourse are in particular digestive endoscopies, and functional surgery operations (cataract operations, hand or wrist operations, etc.). In 2011, the number of one-off hospital episodes increased by 2.4% or 248,000 additional stays, supported by an increase in the number of patients concerned (+ 160,000 patients).
Who are the affected patients?
In 2011, nearly 59 million people received healthcare reimbursements over the year under the general scheme. Among the listed insureds, more than 40% were concerned by a pathology, specific treatment, occasional hospitalization or maternity. Conversely, nearly 60% of them received only routine care. In the chronic pathologies that stand out, 3.3 million people suffered, for example, from a cardiovacular pathology. Psychiatric illnesses affected 1.7 million people receiving care for ALD.
Number of beneficiaries of the general scheme by pathology
Note: The same person can accumulate several pathologies or grounds for appeal, preventing the addition of the numbers relating to each of them.
Source: Health insurance
Elderly populations with multiple pathologies
Last point, as every year, the Health Insurance recalls that the frequency of pathologies and treatments increases with age, but in a variable manner depending on the disease. Among adults aged 65 to 74, cardiovascular pathologies and diabetes dominate, affecting nearly 1 in 6 insured.
The impact of aging beyond 75 is particularly significant. Of the 4.8 million people covered by the general plan and aged 75 and over, 90% are affected by at least one pathology or chronic treatment!
More than a fifth of people aged 75 have at least 4 pathologies or regular treatments. This proportion rises to more than half for those suffering from a chronic respiratory disease and to more than 40% for those suffering from cancer or cardiovascular pathologies.
Frequency of pathologies according to age
Source: Health insurance
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