It was a campaign promise from Emmanuel Macron and a measure eagerly awaited by associations fighting against cancer: to reduce from ten to five years the period of the "right to be forgotten" for bank loans granted to former patients.

The evolution of the legislation seems to be on the right track since deputies and senators reached a compromise on Thursday, February 3, with a text validated by a joint joint committee.

This text must still be voted on one last time by the two chambers, the National Assembly next Thursday and the Senate on February 17.

In addition to reducing the period of the right to be forgotten, the parliamentarians proposed to remove the medical questionnaire for mortgages below 200,000 euros and whose term occurs before the 65th birthday of the borrower.

Excellent news for associations which, coincidentally, falls on the eve of World Cancer Day.

"It's a historic vote. This allows cured people to access the loan under normal conditions", estimates Isabelle Huet, general manager of the RoseUp association, at the forefront of this fight.

"It's a big step towards the inclusion of people who have had cancer", confirms Catherine Simonin of the League against cancer.

"With the right to be forgotten, we enter into common law and we are no longer penalized by the disease we have suffered".

The right to be forgotten was created in 2017 in France.

At the same time, the AERAS agreement ("insurance and borrowing with an aggravated health risk"), signed between banking professionals, associations and the public authorities, has facilitated access to borrowing for former sick.

Despite these advances, asking for money for a home loan or consumer credit after cancer is an uphill battle.

If the loan is not refused, the delays are interminable and the tariffs imposed for the borrower's insurance, calculated according to a reference grid which lists the different types of cancer, prove to be prohibitive.

The double penalty for the sick

Concretely, if a person who has been affected by cancer does not relapse five years after their last treatment, they will no longer have to notify their bank.

And thus, avoid paying additional insurance premiums because of the risks.

"On average, the premiums reach 300%", explains Isabelle Huet.

"In addition, it happens that these borrower insurance include exclusions, that is to say that you pay but without being covered for certain risks. Finally, some people prefer to give up their projects or are led to lie".

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However, concealing information about one's medical history when taking out a loan involves risks.

In the event of a problem, the insurer can be released from all responsibility.

“It is the double penalty especially for the youngest patients who realize that they cannot buy their main residence or invest in professional premises”, recalls Catherine Simonin.

"Criminal record"

Added to these difficulties in accessing loans is the trauma of being constantly brought back to his condition as a former patient.

"A doctor tells you that you are cured, but when you want to take out a loan, you are told that you are still at maximum risk as if you were still sick. It is extremely violent", denounces Isabelle Huet.

“The problem is that there is a lag between medical progress and risk calculations by the insurance industry,” adds the activist.

With this reinforced right to be forgotten, people who have suffered from cancer will therefore be able to consider resuming a normal life more quickly.

In France, it is estimated that nearly four million people are affected or have been affected by cancer.

"This is essential progress for returning to a normal social life", assures Catherine Simonin.

"It's five years of gain for former patients", summarizes Isabelle Huet.

They will finally be able to get rid of this kind of 'criminal record' that sticks to their skin".

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