L’importance économique de l’assurance

The insurance of risks associated with health represents a major economical and social issue. The coverage of these risks enables health expenditure to be financed, which represent a significant proportion of national wealth in developed countries (11.2 % of GDP in France in 2008 according to the OECD). The assessment of the costs of health coverage cannot be limited to a simple comparison of macroeconomic costs without distinguishing essential characteristics that break down schematically into two areas: public/private and voluntary/compulsory. On these bases it is, therefore, possible to offer an informed assessment of the future evolution of the economic importance of health insurance.