MSA, The French Agricultural Social Protection scheme

Abstract

As the second largest social protection scheme in France, the Agricultural Social Mutuality (fr. Mutualité sociale agricole, MSA) is responsible for providing all compulsory social security coverage for the entire agricultural population and its beneficiaries, whether it concerns health, family, retirement, work-related accidents or occupational diseases. The MSA is responsible for collecting social security premiums and contributions, but also unemployment insurance and conventional contributions for many organizations1. It differs from other French social security schemes in that it provides a one-stop shop for individuals and companies to deal with a single contact person for all matters relating to their social protection throughout their lives. In addition to its basic mission, it carries out a policy of health and social action adapted to its population and is also in charge of occupational medicine and the prevention of professional risks in the agricultural sector. It can support all actions aiming to promote the coordination and the offer of care in rural areas2. As a mutualistic organization, the MSA is the expression of a responsible and supportive democracy at the service and in proximity of the rural world. The representativeness of its elected delegates, its knowledge of the territories and their stakeholders, and its role as a professional agricultural organization give it an indispensable expertise that allows it to work for the cohesion of the territories while guaranteeing access to quality public services. This expertise also enables it to be present abroad as part of formalized exchanges in European networks and international cooperation projects.