France

France

Health Care in France

An Overview:

The public health care insurance program in France was established in 1945. Since then the program has gone through many changes. Like other countries in Europe, France has a system of universal health care. The system is mainly financed by National Health Insurance. The central fund for residents health care is a premium that is deducted from the workers pay automatically. Health insurance, in France, is a branch of Social Security.

In 2000, the French healthcare system was classified as the "best health system in the world" by the World Health Organization (WTO). France's healthcare system is costly, but it is known to be one of the best in the world. However, due to the economic downturn, the current level of services is becoming harder to sustain for France.

Economy

Key Points:

• France counts for 1% of population and 5% of global production
• Behind Germany, France is the second largest economy in Europe
• France is the European Unions leading agricultural producer
• Tourism has been an importance, considering, France has over 75 million tourist a year

Immigration Today

• There was an estimated 4.9 million foreign born immigrants that lived in France in 2006, most of which are from European decent.
• The European Union allows free movement between the member states

Energy

France is the most important nuclear energy producer in the European Union, and the second largest producer in the world. Nuclear energy, used for electrical generation, is France's primary energy supply. It accounts for 78% of electrical generation in France. France is poor in energy resource, leading to oil being one of Frances biggest imports. Transport is the most energy consuming sector of France.

Health Care and the European Union

• Most all of Europe has regulated and publicly sponsored health care
• Public plans in some countries provide basic or sick coverage only
• Citizens can most always purchase supplemental insurance for additional coverage
• The United States is the only industrialized nation that does not have a universal health care system