In Toulouse, a municipal mutual, but at what cost?
Only the 80,000 Toulouse residents over the age of 60 could benefit from this mutual insurance provided that they have an income of less than 1,800 euros net per month, and that they are not eligible for universal complementary health insurance.
Stemming the renunciation of care
For the town hall, the objective is to reduce the renunciation of care which affects this fraction of the population due to the increase in tariffs with age and the cessation of the reimbursement of mutual insurance by employers at the retirement time.
After a call for tenders, it was the mutual Just, which won the contract for two years. Based in Valenciennes, this company surfs on the concept of communal mutual insurance, which appeared in France just before 2014. The echoesthe company has forged several hundred partners in the municipalities of Hauts-de-France and aims to dominate the national market.
This agreement “will not give rise to any financial contribution from the town hall of Toulouse”, specified Patricia Bez, health assistant, to Toulouse news.
Advertised prices lower than reality
Accessible, but not free, this mutual is promised at an affordable price compared to the prices of complementary means on the market.
“From 36 euros per month, at age 60, the proposal made by the Toulouse municipal mutual insurance company allows a reduction of around 35% of the entry prices which are offered on the market for this age, that is to say if it is a contribution, it is a tangible and considerable social advance”, boasted Jean-Luc Moudenc, during the press conference dedicated to this subject.
[#CMToulouse] La mutuelle communale, c'est désormais chose faite ! Dès demain, les toulousains pourront se renseigner et adhérer à cette mutuelle au travers des permanences que nous organisons au travers la ville. C'est un + pour le pouvoir d'achat des séniors toulousains ! pic.twitter.com/EsXDyI7ONx
— Jean-Luc Moudenc (@jlmoudenc) February 8, 2022
The mutual’s sales advisors should not be aware of this pricing. “At age 60, the first price is 43.76 euros with a minimum level of guarantee and goes up to 95.06 euros for the maximum level”, we are assured by telephone one of these commercial operators.
Asked about this discrepancy, the press service of the town hall of Toulouse confirms the price given by the mayor: “the mutual insurance company offers Toulouse seniors who wish to benefit from affordable health insurance, from 36.50 euros for a non-responsible contract”.
Strangely, the town hall website however, indicates a first rate of 43.76 euros from the age of 60. Fortunately, optical care is guaranteed by this new mutual…