Healthcare System (France)

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France operates a Statutory Health Insurance (SHI) system, providing universal coverage to its residents through two main schemes: one primarily for the agricultural sector and another more general one. The system is financed mainly through employee and employer contributions, along with earmarked taxes on various revenues.

The healthcare system is overseen by the Ministry of Health, with the SHI managed by the Caisse Nationale de l'Assurance Maladie (CNAM). The central government retains significant control over the healthcare system, despite some decentralization to regional health agencies.

SHI covers a broad range of services, such as preventive care, specialist consultations, hospitalizations, prescription drugs, and maternity care, financing about 83% of total health expenditure. However, SHI doesn't fully cover some goods like dental and optical devices. Hospital care is covered over 90% by SHI, but it only covers 44% of costs for non-pharmaceutical medical goods in ambulatory (outpatient) care.

Supplementary private insurance (mutuelle) or Voluntary Health Insurance (VHI) plays a significant role, with almost 95% of the population having some form of VHI. Certain services not fully covered by SHI, like dental and optical care, often rely on this VHI or out-of-pocket payments.

All residents in France, including long-term foreign residents, contribute to the SHI and can access its benefits. The Assurance Maladie issues a health insurance card, the Carte Vitale, to beneficiaries. This card electronically submits claims data for reimbursement. Electronic health records (Dossier Médical Partagé) are also maintained for each patient, enabling efficient information exchange among healthcare providers. France has recently been placing more emphasis on prevention, health promotion, and patient empowerment.