The Social Security finance bill for 2021 was presented yesterday by Olivier Véran, Minister of Health, and Olivier Dussopt, Minister of Public Accounts through a deluge of unfortunately unclear figures.
Among the highlights, the big comeback of the “security hole” which, without the Covid-19, would have been absorbed. All branches combined (pensions, illness, etc.) it will reach 44.4 billion in 2020, will still be 27.1 billion in 2021 and will then last several years.
Covid-related spending contributes 15 billion this year in 2020. For 2021, the government has set aside 4.3 billion for masks, tests and a possible vaccine.
A “fee-for-service” financing system
Another major element, 12.5 billion in new spending, especially related to the revaluation of salaries and investment in health establishments and nursing homes. A response to the mobilization of hospitals, which will be relieved of a third of their debt (13 billion out of thirty). Another strong development is their much criticized “fee-for-service” financing system, which will start to be reviewed, service after service.
Overall, the envelope of health spending, the famous Ondam (National target for health insurance spending), soars to 224.6 billion, against 215.7 this year and 200.4 in 2019.
Finally, and this is historic, “dependence” (benefits for the elderly who have lost their autonomy) is for the first time endowed with a specific budget as new branch of Sécu. Its 31.2 billion, which are just the beginning, are mainly funded not by a social contribution, but by the generalized social contribution (CSG).
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