Today the route of health mutual is more a concept than a reality

Give a new impetus to the "mutual brand." Even if Jean-Pierre Davant, President of la Mutualité française (FNMF), is the not so clearly ("Les Echos" of 6 June), it is well one of the vocations of the "mutualist health course", organ of the Congress of the mutuality that opens in Lyon today in the presence of Jacques Chirac. The President of the Republic could, say, seize the thorny question of aid to civil servants mutual, and primarily make announcements about the tax exemptions (IS, business tax) still enjoyed by mutual societies governed by the Code of mutuality. Question what could they be promised in return for the surrender of the last statutory benefits that they receive is...

All say that behind the will, real, to improve accessibility to the care of its 38 million members, edge also the need for mutuality, to reposition itself in a competitive environment marked by more specific guarantees, beaten yoghurt cholesterol-lowering database marketing and little pittance tariff inflation for the insured. "Today, the route of health mutual is more a concept than a reality." "It reflects especially the willingness of the French mutuality to restore meaning to his existence," says a skilled observer. "The mutuality needs to distinguish between and uniting its members through an innovative speech, particularly as regards private insurers", said one of them.

Differentiation strategy

Because it is a crisis of identity in the mutuality. What is - this means that be mutualistic today What advantage this gives to private insurers It returned really into account in the deed of purchase of a further, knowing that in France about 50 of the insured through a collective contract How to reconcile principle of solidarity and respect for the requirements of solvency How to federate mutual companies, through groupings, who more and more competition Many key questions to the representatives of the mutual family.

The French mutuality writes of elsewhere black and white in the prérapport of the Congress of Lyon: his route of mutual health "appears as an opportunity to affirm and leading a strategy of differentiation of mutual supply." It should also "allow the creation of a true force to report to negotiate with health care professionals and on the Organization of the health system". Franck Droin, associate Kadris Consultants, "it can also become a commercial asset for companies wishing to conquer the market".

As it is envisaged, this mutual journey will take at least the form of a "common Charter for more quality, accessibility and responsibility". A French mutuality label, sort, guaranteeing access to the best care for members and attesting to the establishment of a logic of evaluation at the national level.

Internal and external challenges

Remains to know also if mutual scourged ready to play the game. Because, at the end of course, these are they who will be responsible for the incentive character (follow the path of mutual health will allow to obtain better repayment) or coercive device. However, for many mutual, "the Congress of Lyon is especially regarded as a great Fellowship reconciliation, in the current context of consolidation", note a professional.

It is therefore a challenge both internal and external launches French mutuality. "The real issue for the FNMF, will be sent to demonstrate, on a few specific topics and in the next two years, that his route of health objectively assessable results note Franck Droin." It has this a nugget in his breast with his 2,000 establishments of care and mutual support. "Embryo of care without equivalent in France network, which should breathe overall consistency.