[Rationalization of health expenditures: the Séguin's plan in 1987]

Sickness insurance is universal and compulsory in France. It is financed mainly by contributions from employers and employees. Consequently its soaring costs may sharply reduce the competitive French products on the world market. Successive French administrations have attempted to curb the growing health costs by increasing co-payment. The program launched in 1987 was innovating since it was aimed at the group of insured people who were previously not submitted to co-payment (persons having presumably grave illness...). The program was a breakthrough in the French system which was built on a mixed concept of insurance and solidarity. The program was undoubtedly a great success. However, lack of an efficient information system, and reaction of the various actors (patients and doctors) who succeeded to adjust themselves to the new regulations, diminished its impact some years after it has been implemented.