Couverture maladie universelle

The Couverture maladie universelle (CMU; Universal health care coverage) is a French social welfare programme concerning public health. It was passed by Lionel Jospin's gauche plurielle government (Law of 27 July 1999), at the initiative of Martine Aubry, minister of . The CMU came into force in January 2000.

It reimburses medical expenses through social security to all those legally resident in France for more than three months. For people on low incomes, the CMU offers complementary health coverage of 100%, which is added to standard Social Security payments; this avoids the necessity for additional private (top-up) insurance. Illegal aliens are entitled to health care via the Aide médicale d'Etat (AME, State medical aid).

A 2006 investigation by the NGO Médecins du monde showed that 10% of French physicians illegally refused to treat patients covered by the CMU, while 40% refused to treat AME patients.[1]

Proponents of CMU and of the state medical aid programs argue that, apart from humanitarian concerns, it is in the interest of public health and the public good to avoid a situation whereby certain sections of the population are not treated. Epidemics are accordingly prevented. Proponents also point out that it is cheaper to treat patients in the early stages of an illness, or to prevent illness, rather than waiting until the condition worsens and having to treat people on an emergency or crisis basis.

See also

References

  1. ↑ « 34 % des généralistes refusent des patients relevant de l'aide médicale d'Etat, selon Médecins du monde », in Le Monde, 16 October 2006 (French)
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