About Health Insurance in France

Universal health care is a common trend across Europe. France has a Public Health Insurance Program that has been around since 1945. Although it has seen many changes over the years, the Public Health Insurance Program is incredibly popular because all legal residents of France have access to health care.

Funding

• The money for the Public Health Insurance Program comes from the taxpayers.

Earnings

• Twenty percent of each working person's earnings goes into the Public Health Insurance Program funds.

Funds

• There are three main funds for the Public Health Insurance Program. A main fund pays for 80 percent of the population, and two other funds are for self-employed and agricultural workers.

Purpose

• The Public Health Insurance Program is a way for the French government to control the health care in the country. Everyone has an opportunity to get affordable health care.

Price

• The cost is set by physicians' unions and the Public Health Insurance funds. Most doctors work for the set price unless they work for a private firm.

Physicians

• With universal health care comes a high demand for health care. Therefore, there are approximately 3.37 physicians per 1,000 people in France.