FNMF' s presentation

The Mutualité Française (National Federation of French Mutual Benefit Societies)

Incorporating almost all of France’s mutual benefit funds (mutuelles), which in their own right cover 38 million people, the Mutualité Française is a leading player in the area of complementary health insurance in France. It is also driven by a set of strong values which are a legacy of its past.

A know-how underpinned by strong values

The Mutualité Française is a legacy of the mutual benefit movement which emerged in the second half of the nineteenth century and flourished throughout the twentieth. In France, mutual benefit activities developed alongside social welfare, notably through the provision of complementary health insurance. As private, non-profit organisations, the mutual benefit funds are regulated under the Code de la Mutualité, which was rewritten as a result of the government order of 19 April 2001.

Apart from its technical and organisational know-how in the area of complementary health insurance,
the Mutualité is underpinned by a set of values shared by all mutual benefit actors:

• Solidarity, which translates into equality of treatment for all beneficiaries, no risk selection and no discrimination on financial grounds.
• Democracy, a principle embodied in the election of its management on the basis of one man, one vote.
• Freedom, insofar that the mutual benefit funds are partnerships, free to form and cooperate, and independent of any political, financial, union or philosophical authority.
• Responsibility, through continuous efforts to promote individual responsibility and an emphasis on transparency and scrupulousness in their operations.

These principles are set down in a “charter of commitment” adhered to by all mutuelles.

Providing coverage for 38 million people38 millions de personnes couvertes
The mutuelles under the umbrella of the Mutualité Française – i.e. 95% of the organisations concerned – provide coverage for 38 million people. They cover all or part of health expenditures that are not reimbursed by Social Security.

They play a particularly crucial role in dental and optical care and each year pay out a total €20 billion in reimbursements. They are headed by 100,000 elected volunteers and operated by 55,000 salaried staff.

Over the past two decades, the Mutualité has also been involved in a wide range of health prevention and promotion programmes targeting issues such as drug and alcohol addiction, suicide and depression, risk-taking behaviour, old age, nutrition, sexuality, cancer and drug usage. Their activities in these areas fall within both national and local priorities for action. In keeping with the mutual benefit ethic, their primary aim is to reduce health inequalities. These activities are pursued in partnership with other health and welfare professionals and are supported by a network of professionals coordinated at the national level.

An extensive network of centres and services
The health mutual benefit funds operating under the Mutualité Française also run a network of around 2,000 health care and support centres and services. Far from being reserved for mutual fund subscribers, most of these facilities are also open to other social security beneficiaries.

They include, among others:

• 540 optical centres
• 400 dental centres
• 300 centres/services for the elderly
• 190 hearing aid centres
• 100 low vision services
• 93 vacation leisure centres/services
• 90 day centres/services for people with disabilities
• 80 early childhood centres/services
• 78 hospitals
• 70 treatment centres/nursing stations
• 66 chemists
• 53 denture laboratories
• 48 family support services