Couverture maladie universelle
Encyclopedia
The Couverture maladie universelle (CMU; Universal health care coverage) is a French social welfare programme concerning public health
. It was voted through by Lionel Jospin
's gauche plurielle
government (Law of 27 July 1999), at the initiative of the minister Martine Aubry
. 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. Furthermore, for people on low incomes, the CMU also offers complementary health cover 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 heath care via the Aide médicale d'Etat (AME, State medical aid).
A 2006 investigation by the NGO Médecins du monde
(Doctors of the World) showed that 10% of French physicians illegally refused to treat patients covered by the CMU, while 40% refused to treat AME patients.
One of the main arguments made by proponents of CMU and of the State medical aid programs is that, apart from humanitarian concerns, it is in the interest of public health
to avoid a situation whereby certain sections of the population
are not treated. Epidemics are accordingly prevented. Furthermore, proponents point out that it is cheaper to treat patients in the early stages of an illness rather than waiting until the condition worsens.
Public health
Public health is "the science and art of preventing disease, prolonging life and promoting health through the organized efforts and informed choices of society, organizations, public and private, communities and individuals" . It is concerned with threats to health based on population health...
. It was voted through by Lionel Jospin
Lionel Jospin
Lionel Jospin is a French politician, who served as Prime Minister of France from 1997 to 2002.Jospin was the Socialist Party candidate for President of France in the elections of 1995 and 2002. He was narrowly defeated in the final runoff election by Jacques Chirac in 1995...
's gauche plurielle
Gauche plurielle
The Gauche Plurielle was a left-wing coalition in France, composed of the Socialist Party , the French Communist Party , the Greens, the Left Radical Party , and the Citizens' Movement...
government (Law of 27 July 1999), at the initiative of the minister Martine Aubry
Martine Aubry
Martine Aubry is a French politician. She has been the First Secretary of the French Socialist Party since November 2008 and Mayor of Lille since March 2001...
. The CMU came into force in January 2000.
It reimburses medical expenses through Social security
Social security
Social security is primarily a social insurance program providing social protection or protection against socially recognized conditions, including poverty, old age, disability, unemployment and others. Social security may refer to:...
to all those legally resident in France for more than three months. Furthermore, for people on low incomes, the CMU also offers complementary health cover of 100%, which is added to standard Social Security payments; this avoids the necessity for additional private (top-up) insurance. Illegal aliens
Alien (law)
In law, an alien is a person in a country who is not a citizen of that country.-Categorization:Types of "alien" persons are:*An alien who is legally permitted to remain in a country which is foreign to him or her. On specified terms, this kind of alien may be called a legal alien of that country...
are entitled to heath care via the Aide médicale d'Etat (AME, State medical aid).
A 2006 investigation by the NGO Médecins du monde
Médecins du Monde
Médecins du Monde or Doctors of the World, is a non-governmental humanitarian aid organisation created in March 1980 by 15 French doctors, including Bernard Kouchner after he had left Médecins Sans Frontières , the aid society which he had co-founded earlier in 1971...
(Doctors of the World) showed that 10% of French physicians illegally refused to treat patients covered by the CMU, while 40% refused to treat AME patients.
One of the main arguments made by proponents of CMU and of the State medical aid programs is that, apart from humanitarian concerns, it is in the interest of public health
Public health
Public health is "the science and art of preventing disease, prolonging life and promoting health through the organized efforts and informed choices of society, organizations, public and private, communities and individuals" . It is concerned with threats to health based on population health...
to avoid a situation whereby certain sections of the population
Population
A population is all the organisms that both belong to the same group or species and live in the same geographical area. The area that is used to define a sexual population is such that inter-breeding is possible between any pair within the area and more probable than cross-breeding with individuals...
are not treated. Epidemics are accordingly prevented. Furthermore, proponents point out that it is cheaper to treat patients in the early stages of an illness rather than waiting until the condition worsens.
See also
- Universal health careUniversal health careUniversal health care is a term referring to organized health care systems built around the principle of universal coverage for all members of society, combining mechanisms for health financing and service provision.-History:...
- Welfare stateWelfare stateA welfare state is a "concept of government in which the state plays a key role in the protection and promotion of the economic and social well-being of its citizens. It is based on the principles of equality of opportunity, equitable distribution of wealth, and public responsibility for those...
- Politics of FrancePolitics of FranceFrance is a semi-presidential representative democratic republic, in which the President of France is head of state and the Prime Minister of France is the head of government, and there is a pluriform, multi-party system. Executive power is exercised by the government. Legislative power is...
- Lionel JospinLionel JospinLionel Jospin is a French politician, who served as Prime Minister of France from 1997 to 2002.Jospin was the Socialist Party candidate for President of France in the elections of 1995 and 2002. He was narrowly defeated in the final runoff election by Jacques Chirac in 1995...
's Gauche plurielleGauche plurielleThe Gauche Plurielle was a left-wing coalition in France, composed of the Socialist Party , the French Communist Party , the Greens, the Left Radical Party , and the Citizens' Movement...
(Plural left) government