The financial situation of Social Security continues to deteriorate, points out the Court of Auditors which publishes its annual report on Health Insurance. What she suggests to remedy it sounds like a bitter potion.
:quality(50)/2024/03/04/emmanuel-cugny-65e6021ef3340792811771.png)
Published
Reading time: 3 min
:quality(50)/2024/05/30/maxstockworld443758-665824a14042d385110309.jpg)
In his report on the application of social security financing laws, published Wednesday May 29, the Court of Auditors suggests a profound reform of compensation for sick leave. Many judgments are considered abusive and costly to the community. Soon there will be no more prolonged downtime due to disagreements with your department head or boss, except, of course, in the event of a real medical or psychological impact.
The overall bill for sick leave increased by more than 50% between 2017 and 2022, a surge of four billion euros for a final total of 12 billion in the general system. Doctors who are too complacent are in the crosshairs. One suggestion will really raise eyebrows: the Court recommends stopping compensation for work stoppages of less than eight days and increasing the waiting periods from three to seven days.
After a deficit close to 11 billion euros in 2023, Social Security should see its financial hole widen to 17.2 billion euros in 2027. The first president of the Court of Auditors, Pierre Moscovici, estimates that ‘such a level of deficit is “a tipping point” and that the financing of Social Security deficits is no longer assured in the long term.
The real problem lies, according to the Court of Auditors, at the level of pension financing. The French population is aging, and when we retire, we are automatically attached to the Social Security system. It is written in black and white in the Court’s report: the pension reform initiated by the President of the Republic, Emmanuel Macron, “will only have favorable financial effects on Social Security accounts very gradually”.
Health is the other main source of spending. The deficit of 11 billion euros in 2023 is due in particular to the increase in care linked to the increase in life expectancy. But also to the upgrading of the treatment of hospital staff. The message is clear: we must continue to work to control health spending, discuss with the social partners and have political courage to show the French people the color.