Access to oral care in the «100% Santé» reform: Context and perspectives

Abstract

The “100% Santé” (100% Health) reform was intended to address the major problem of social inequalities in access to dental care in France. We explain the reform as well as the numerous challenges that come with its application. The difficulties encountered in accessing dental care were associated with particularly high out-of-pocket expenses for users. The main objectives of the dental component of the “100% Santé” reform are to improve access to dental care and to strengthen preventive health policy. The main tool of this reform is a cap on the price of certain treatments. This makes it possible for health insurance organizations to be responsible for the total financing of such care. There are now three baskets of care, each with a different pricing and financing structure. The first basket proposes capped fees with no payment for users. This reform constitutes a significant change in the regulation of dental care, which could have very different consequences depending on the region and the number of dentists operating in it. The effectiveness of the reform on the evolution of health care consumption and on reducing inequalities of access must be monitored.