Posted Feb 28 2023 at 4:45 PMUpdated Feb 28. 2023 at 17:10
New step towards a return to normal, three years almost to the day following the entry into force of the first – and drastic – containment to combat the Covid epidemic. A decree published in the “Official Journal” on Tuesday provides that from 1is March, 100% coverage by Health Insurance of PCR and antigen tests for the detection of the coronavirus is abolished, except in special cases. A decision justified by the fact that “for several months, the health situation in France, as in the other countries of the European Union, has been improving and stabilizing for the long term”, specified the Ministry of Health in a press release.
The absence of a single euro in advance and the ease of being able to be tested have largely contributed to the fight once morest the epidemic. Until vaccines were developed, it was even the only weapon once morest the virus. The tests, PCR as well as antigens, formed the basis of the health pass introduced in the summer of 2021 to enter many places; a pass which was subsequently supplanted by the pass for vaccination, but which continued for the non-vaccinated.
Epidemic ebb
A first step was taken in October 2021 in the delisting of tests with the conditioning of their free vaccination, unless contraindicated. But it was to promote the latter and not because the epidemic was marking time. This time, it is its reflux that justifies the decision of the public authorities.
This is part of a movement to trivialize the treatment of Covid infections: the end last January of the derogatory regime which provided for the issuance of work stoppages in the event of Covid via the Health Insurance website and the no waiting period for these stops. The next step is already announced. The High Authority for Health (HAS) is considering the end of compulsory generalized anti-Covid vaccination among caregivers. The hypothesis is mentioned in a project made public on February 20. The final opinion should be published at the end of March.
The most fragile not concerned
The end of free tests from this Wednesday will not be complete, however, far from it. The most fragile will continue to be supported at 100%. In this case will be patients with long-term illness, people aged 65 and over, minors, health and medico-social professionals, pregnant women and people undergoing collective screening.
-17 %
more tests were carried out in 2022 compared to the previous year.
For the others, the end of 100% financial support for the cost of the tests does not mean that they will become fully paid. First, L’Assurance Maladie will continue to reimburse part of their price – 70% if they are carried out by a doctor or a pharmacist and 60% if it is a nurse or a physiotherapist. And “for the vast majority of policyholders who have additional coverage, the remainder will remain zero”, as for beneficiaries of complementary health insurance, specifies the Ministry of Health.
According to the latest data published by the Department of Statistics of the Ministry of Health (DREES), in 2022, 140.43 million tests (RT-PCR and antigens) for the detection of SARS-CoV2 were validated (including 61% of antigenic tests), compared to 168.35 million tests (including 49% of antigenic tests) over the year 2021. This represents a drop of 17% in total.
