From next year, eight sessions with the psychologist will be reimbursed by health insurance. A measure valid for all adults and children from the age of three.
- The National Assembly voted the measure allowing the reimbursement of eight sessions with the psychologist per year.
- The fixed prices are 40 euros for the first session and 30 euros for the following ones.
The President of the Republic Emmanuel Macron announced it in September, the National Assembly has just voted on it. From next year, Health Insurance will reimburse eight sessions with the psychologist per year. This device is valid for all adults and children from the age of three.
Consultations at 30 euros maximum
As for other medical procedures, the rates reimbursed by Health Insurance are set by Social Security: 40 euros for the first session and 30 euros for subsequent sessions, without exceeding authorized fees. Another condition to benefit from this 100% coverage: the patient must have been referred to the psychologist on medical prescription. “Volunteer psychologists will be selected” and “the government will ensure that the distribution is as equitable as possible in the territory”, affirmed Brigitte Bourguignon, the Minister delegate to the Minister of Solidarity and Health, in charge of Autonomy before the deputies. “Consultation with the profession continueson the modalities of implementation, she added. For 2022, the budget planned to finance this measure is 50 million euros.
A necessary measure after the Covid-19 crisis
“The pandemic has revealed the importance of the subject”, declared Emmanuel Macron when presenting his plan for mental health, on September 28 during the Assizes of mental health and psychiatry. Indeed, according to the results of a CoviPrev survey published on September 17, the French suffered mentally because of the health crisis. 16% of them declared signs of a depressive state, 26% an anxious state and 10% said they had had suicidal thoughts during the year.
15 to 20% of the population affected by depression…
According to the National Institute of Health and Medical Research (Inserm), 15 to 20% of the general population has been or will be affected by a depression disorder during their lifetime. This disorder can occur at any age and is usually associated with social dysfunction and/or major personal suffering. Depression – which corresponds to a time when morale is less good – is to be differentiated from depression which presents itself as a succession of characterized depressive episodes.
…a disease that can have serious consequences for patients
Depression can have serious consequences on the social functioning of the person because the symptoms are numerous: pathological sadness, loss of pleasure, almost permanent feeling of anxiety, sleep disorders, loss of appetite, etc. Physical health is also in danger, with a particularly high risk of suicide which concerns 10 to 20% of patients. But, in 70% of cases, the treatments are effective. These may include antidepressant medication combined with follow-up psychotherapy.
Certain life events, such as death, job loss or divorce, increase the risk of depression. But, it can also be linked to other factors such as genetic or neurological ones.
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