Long-term care benefits under the French social protection system

Abstract

The current French long-term care security system is an incomplete set of measures that is an interim result of various experimental phases. For some time now, the debate around an independent social security branch has also included the search for possibilities to offer protection against the risk of long-term care dependency by forms of security governed by private law. Thus, the creation of an independent risk category has, at least, been put to the test. This is also why, in order to understand the overall system, the temporarily discussed issue of a potential private insurance is to be taken into account. This solution is given little chance, however, mainly for financial reasons. Former president Sarkozy who, during his election campaign in 2007, showed a keen interest in introducing long-term care insurance, did not pursue this project in his actual term of office. After the election of François Hollande the issue of protection against the risk of long-term care dependency came to the fore again, and in 2014 a reform of the protection against the risk of long-term care dependency was to be carried out. Indeed, such a reform is in progress and at a relatively advanced stage due to the preparation of a draft proposal by the council of ministers; however, only a part of the measures aiming at protection against the risk of long-term care dependency is intended for reform.