INTERVIEW
The association UFC-Que Choisir pointed the finger on Wednesday in a study a sharp increase in complementary health. After sifting through 500 contracts from 86 different organizations, it judges the median inflation of tariffs to be around 5%, with certain organizations where tariffs have exploded: + 12% for Swiss Life, for example. Albert Lautmann, director general of the Fédération nationale de la Mutualité Française, disputes the figures given by the consumer association. "I am convinced that this study tends to exaggerate the increase in complementary health because the method chosen is not exhaustive", he reacted on Europe 1 Wednesday
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The country's aging causes more requests for access to healthcare
Pointing to the strong competition that exists in the sector, Albert Lautmann explains that "the market has been structured around prices according to age". According to him, the study cannot therefore be correct, since there are variations in prices linked to age. "It gives the feeling that prices are increasing more than reality."
In addition, the director general of the National Federation of French Mutual Insurance believes that "comparing health spending with inflation does not make sense". "Our country is aging, the more elderly people there are, the more health care costs there will be. This is not bad news, we all aspire to be well taken care of, for as long as possible. long, chronic illnesses that become mass illnesses.
A "catch-up" effect
The UFC-Que Choisir association estimates the additional cost over the year greater than 80 euros in one out of two cases and greater than 150 euros in one out of five cases. According to the director general of the National Federation of French Mutuality, this can be explained by a "catch-up" effect, after years when prices have not increased. "Tariffs in 2020 increased by 2 to 3%," he explains.
"This does not mean that some French people do not have contributions which have increased by 5 or 6%. Some complementary ones have not increased a year, so there is a catch-up effect. There may be collective contracts on which the intensity of competition had tended to underestimate spending for certain players, and therefore there may be a catch-up effect. "
"No significant impact" of the rest at zero charge
While UFC-Que Choisir points to a cause and effect link between price inflation and the implementation of the rest at zero charge on glasses and dental care, there too, Albert Lautmann denies as a whole. "In reality, there is no significant impact of the reform of the rest on dependent glasses and dental care in the rates of mutual or complementary health." Since January 1, 2020, a basket of optical and dental care has been fully reimbursed.
"The rest at zero charge is a good, balanced reform, which requires efforts from all health professionals who have entered into a logic of capped rates", continues the president of the National Federation of French Mutuality. "Previously, for example, the prices of dental prostheses were free. There have been efforts on the margin, through compulsory health insurance and complementary health insurance. We believe that the impact of the reform for the expenses of mutuals, and therefore for their contributions, is around 1% over three years, which is quite minor. "
Competition to lower prices?
For UFC-Que Choisir, it is necessary to anticipate the termination of contracts, scheduled for December 1 at the latest. Using competition to lower prices is a bad analysis, according to Albert Lautmann. "We do not share this opinion. On the contrary, it is the very strong development of competition over the years which has made mutuals forced to align themselves and vary their rates according to age."
According to him, it is better to compare the guarantees of mutuals rather than their rates. "The first expenses of complementary health care today are hospitals. We have to compare the mutual insurance on guarantees on the hospital, on salary maintenance or not." Nevertheless, the Director General concedes that "the demand for health is strong in our country, and we have the idea that health should cost nothing. There is no other way than to pass on the contributions the evolution of mutual health spending. There is no hidden treasure, no easy solution. "
Faced with the tariffs, some could waive care or the subscription of a mutual. "There are some young people who say that they do not need glasses, that they are in good health. But it is a mistake: the first reimbursement items are hospital expenses". "Apart from those who have a long-term illness, or who have pathologies 100% covered by social security, one in two euros is now the responsibility of the supplement," he recalls.