“This concerns all types of chairs, without upfront costs,” explains Minister Charlotte Parmentier-Lecocq

A long-awaited measure came into force on Monday December 1: wheelchairs are now 100% reimbursed by Health Insurance. Full support, “without financial advance”assures this Tuesday, December 2 on franceinfo Charlotte Parmentier-Lecocq, the Minister responsible for Autonomy and People with Disabilities, political guest of “La Matinale”.

This text corresponds to the transcription of part of the interview above. Click on the video to watch the interview in full.

Caroline Motte: Since yesterday, wheelchairs have been 100% reimbursed by Health Insurance. This of course concerns disabled people, but also elderly people losing their autonomy. Was it time to implement this full refund?

Charlotte Parmentier-Lecocq: Yes, absolutely. This has been awaited by associations for more than 20 years. It was a promise that the President of the Republic made to associations, to people with disabilities in 2023, and so since then, we have been working to make it a reality. And, that’s it, people who need a wheelchair will be able to have the chair that suits them, which will be 100% covered by Health Insurance without them even needing to make a financial advance. Above all, it is simplification, because they will no longer have to prepare a multitude of files to ultimately also have to contribute on their own. They will have a single contact.

And does this apply to all types of wheelchairs?

This concerns all types of wheelchairs. What we really wanted was to be able to meet all needs. Because the wheelchair, you have to understand that it is a bit of an extension of the person’s body. It is essential to fully experience your citizenship, obviously to be able to move around, but to be able to go about all your activities. So it’s really a measure of autonomy and citizenship.

And will the procedure for getting reimbursed be simple or not? Will it be necessary to advance the costs, for example?

No, we will not have to advance the costs, that’s what is also revolutionary about the approach, because sometimes the chairs can be extremely expensive, so even making the advance would be difficult. And the procedure is really very simplified, but everything starts from a medical prescription which really defines the person’s needs. Then, there is a stage of testing and adjustments to be able to completely finalize the prescription with options, additions, really anything that will help clearly define the person’s needs. There is a request for prior approval from Health Insurance and it has between 15 days and 2 months to respond. So really, it’s simplification for people.

So everything was thought of with associations for the well-being of people in wheelchairs?

Yes, it’s a method that I’ve been very keen on, that is to say that we really put all the stakeholders around the table. Firstly, people with disabilities and associations of people who need wheelchairs, and then obviously manufacturers, service providers, health professionals. But by always working together, with a compass, how do we meet people’s needs? But then, it was also about finding a balance so that each stakeholder can find their way, including Health Insurance, since in this reform, we also revised certain prices, so that we also regulate expenses a little better.

Precisely, it is a support which has a cost, around 100 to 200 million euros, which is added to the 300 million already allocated per year. Can we afford it when we know the social security deficit today?
It is an effort of national solidarity which is part of 100% health. These are also preventive measures, because a person who does not have the right wheelchair or who isolates themselves because they were unable to obtain a wheelchair is a person who will do less well. It’s also other expenses if you really look at things from a very financial perspective. But in this reform, we also revised certain prices, in particular rental prices which meant that we could rent a chair several times, and that we ended up financing it several times. So, we are also restoring some order to the good management of our public finances.

You are also in charge of Autonomy in government and in particular of an Old Age plan, which aims to rethink housing and support for the elderly. This is a crucial subject when we know the demographic shock that awaits us. Can you already reveal to us the broad outlines of this plan?

I’m not announcing it yet, but my goal is to be able to really announce it in the coming weeks. We know that we have a huge challenge ahead of us, because our population is aging. All Baby Boomers will be 85 years old in 2030. This will cause a very significant need for dependency care. And beyond that, our country will continue to age. So we have to put in place preventive measures so that people can be healthy for as long as possible.

And the goal is to encourage people to stay at home, right?

That we can both encourage home care, but also those we plan to help with the PLFSS, this year’s Social Security financing bill, because many things are already in reality on track. But it is also about changing our policy around housing. What is in high demand and which we need to develop is what we call shared housing. These are also habitats located closer to the center of a municipality, with access to all services and where we break the isolation of the elderly, where we can also allow all these home helpers to come and concentrate in the same place, which facilitates good care and good support for people.

Click on the video to watch the interview in full.