A conference on the topic: “Health Care Expenditures: How Can We Maintain a Solidarity-Based Funding System?” during the “Rdv de l’Éco” event

[Press Release] - Published on November 13, 2025 in the Press Room

As part of the “Rendez-vous de l’éco” series, the University of Montpellier’s Faculty of Economics is organizing a conference on the theme: “Health Care Spending: How Can We Maintain a Solidarity-Based Funding System?” on Monday, November 24, starting at 6:00 p.m., on the Richter campus of the Faculty of Economics.

Why this conference?

Rising health care costs pose major challenges to the sustainability of the social protection system and to equitable access to care. In France, the financing of health care expenditures relies on a strong synergy between health insurance and supplemental insurance providers, which limits out-of-pocket costs for insured individuals compared to other countries. However, this system leaves households with little or no supplemental coverage exposed to potentially high health care costs.

The decline in health insurance revenues tends to exacerbate these challenges and shifts the burden to supplemental insurance providers and households. The conference will explore possible solutions for preserving access to care without compromising solidarity.

Speakers

Denis Raynaud is the director of the Institute for Research and Documentation in Health Research s (IRDES). An economist specializing in health insurance and the regulation of health systems, he has, among other things, contributed to the work of the High Council for the Future of Health Insurance (HCAAM) on proposed scenarios for the future relationship between Social Security and supplemental health insurance.

Didier Balsan is Chief of Staff to the President of Mutuelle Familiale. An economist specializing in social protection and health insurance, he has also held several positions at the National Federation of French Mutual Insurance Companies (Fédération nationale de la Mutualité Française), the Ministry of Health, the Directorate of Social Security (DSS), and the Directorate for Research, Studies, Evaluation, and Statistics (DREES).