Inequalities

As health was the topic I chose at the beginning of this project, I find it interesting that healthcare is one of the main inequalities in France.  From 1980 to the present there have been many major changes to the origination of jobs and employment in France, which has led to concern for healthcare inequalities. One of the main changes to note is that those people working in "'precarious'" positions have had cost-free medical care extended to them by the government. Most Frenchmen are covered by some form of insurance; however, when in need of medical attention, visits to the the doctor and prescriptions must be paid in part up front. About 70% is paid back by the government and the rest by the medical insurance which is taken out by both the individual and the employer. This point is where inequality is introduced because of those unemployed, "'sans domicile fixe'" or "people with no stable residence," and others in similar situations. However, since 1998 France has begun to deal with this problem as it began to increase greatly. The main ways France has dealt with this problem is by instituting new laws on the insurance and creating some new institutions to deal with this. 


"Health Inequalities in France." Oxford Journals | Medicine | International Journal of Epidemiology. Web. 21 May 2011. <http://ije.oxfordjournals.org/content/30/3/628.full>