-
Comment: France must abandon dream of retirement at 62
Columnist Simon Heffer says it is high time for the country to face economic reality
-
Letters: French funerals are surprisingly well-organised
Connexion reader shares her experience of the procedures and paperwork involved
-
Letters: Gluten-free diets are a challenge living in France
Connexion readers share their challenges and hidden gems for gluten-free dining and shopping
Free glasses are a mirage
One wonders if the pledge to reduce the ‘ reste à charge ’ for glasses and dental prostheses to 0% will work.
The government says there will be no increase in mutuelle premiums but consultants Mercer Conseil estimate the rise could be as high as 8.9%.
Insurance is not magic. If claims payments go up, premiums increase. Insurance firms have to make profit.
This begs the question: Is it not better to be your own insurer for recurring costs? If you must change glasses every two years and it costs, say €500, your insurer will ask for a premium from you to cover this plus overheads and profit. You may pay €600 for your glasses.
Better to put €20 into your piggy bank every month!
The problem is health insurance falls somewhere between two types of insurance: Life insurance, an inevitable pay-out upon death – and non-life insurance where the principle is that indemnification follows a sudden unforeseen event.
Geoffrey Auckland, Blois