Abstract EN:

The role and position of mutual funds within the healthcare system have evolved greatly over time. Nonetheless, they remain a key player whose role may yet be strengthened further. Indeed, within the current context of controlling public spending, whilst the cost of care escapes such control, the most recent National Health Insurance reforms have entailed a significant shift of cover from the remit of National Health Insurance to that of complementary policies. The public system is thus being drawn towards the line of minimal assistance. As a consequence, complementary policies, both individual and collective, fulfil an increasingly important role. Within this context, mutual healthcare funds are a particularly relevant object for analysis because, although they are in effect private insurance policies, they do not function according to market, principles but rather place emphasis upon the principles of solidarity inherent to social and Welfare economics. The issue is all the more important given that many geographical and social inequalities continue to rise and undermine the health insurance system. However, national and international competition in this field has risen over recent decades and places social economic organizations, including mutual health insurance policies, in a difficult position. In order to preserve their principles of solidarity in face of rising commercial practices in the healthcare field, and an unprecedented search for profit on the part of insurance companies, mutual funds have to firmly establish their presence, sometimes through substantial reorganization. Despite these difficulties, the field of mutual funds continues to reaffirm its intention to resist and perpetuate an economic model based upon solidarity between individuals.