the good plan of municipal mutual societies

In Montpellier (Hérault), from January 2025, the metropolis will offer its residents the possibility of joining a “communal mutual health insurance”. An abuse of language, because it is not a question, for the municipality, of creating its own health coverage, but of entering into a contract with an insurer. The result is advantageous group rates for students, retirees or self-employed workers who do not benefit from company mutual insurance.

In Sète (Hérault), Millau (Aveyron), Valenciennes (North), and Decize (Nièvre), this system is attracting more and more mayors. The Mutualité française now estimates the number of member municipalities at 10,000. In recent months, the initiative has gained new momentum in the face of soaring health insurance prices. According to the consumer association UFC-Que Choisir, the average increase in prices for these supplements reached 10% in 2024. And even 40% for certain contracts, particularly those intended for seniors.

The increasingly significant transfer of costs from health insurance to traditional mutual insurance companies explains this increase. On November 18, the government announced that Social Security would once again lower its drug reimbursement rate from next year.

A difficult balance

“In Montreuil (Seine-Saint-Denis), the town hall estimates the number of residents without complementary health insurance at a third, due to their cost,” laments Olivier Madaule, deputy delegate for Health. In 2018, the City chose to enter into a partnership with the Solimut mutual insurance company. “At first, the success of the formula was very encouraging: 5,000 members, and guarantees 20 to 40% cheaper than the average,” recalls Olivier Madaule.

But the very heterogeneous profile of beneficiaries made it difficult to properly pool risks. “We had to terminate our contract, as this economic model became untenable for Solimut,” explains the deputy. We then turned to the Family Mutual, negotiating an increase in costs of 5% per year. » The latter can afford it, because it has a larger membership base guaranteeing it a better financial balance.

Some communities intend to take advantage of this winning formula. At the beginning of November, the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes Region announced the launch of its “regional mutual”, with the promise of very attractive rates for Auvergne and Rhône-Alpes residents.