In various areas of health and social protection, several strong measures come into force in 2023, in particular for young people and for childcare.
Regarding health:
The male condom available free of charge in pharmacies for young people under 26
Minors or adults, all young people under the age of 26 can now obtain male condoms free of charge from pharmacies, without a prescription. This measure was announced last December by Emmanuel Macron, the President of the Republic. It came into force on January 1.
This decision complements a system already in place since 2022 which allows young women, aged 12 to 25, to receive the majority of contraceptives in pharmacies, without advance payment. But they must present a prescription and their Vitale card (or a certificate of entitlement to health insurance). It should be noted that consultations with a doctor or a midwife as well as the examinations necessary for contraception are also free.
For now, the female condom is always excluded from this device. Other contraceptives also remain chargeable for young people: certain pills, patchesthem vaginal ringsthem cervical caps as well as spermicides.
Laboratory testing for STIs other than HIV without a prescription
From now on, it is possible to be screened, in a medical biology laboratory, for certain sexually transmitted infections (STIs) without it being necessary to present a prescription. Until now, this was only possible for HIV-AIDS. For young people under the age of 26, this screening examination is 100% covered by the Assurance Maladie.
We are still awaiting the publication of the decrees which will establish the list of STIs concerned.
The free morning after pill for adults
Since January 1, all women, regardless of their age, can benefit from free, in pharmacies and without a prescription, hormonal emergency contraception, better known as the “morning after pill”. Until now, this device was reserved for young underage women.
As a reminder:he morning after pill consists of a single tablet to be taken as soon as possible, within three to five days (depending on its composition)which follow sexual intercourse without contraception.
Seven new rare diseases detected in babies at birth
Starting this year, seven new rare diseases will be screened for in newborns (three aminoacidopathies, two organic aciduria and two beta oxidation deficiencies). With the agreement of the parents, this neonatal screening will be carried out 48 to 72 hours after birth, by taking a few drops of blood from the baby’s heel (Guthrie test).
Six pathologies were already screened in infants at birth (phenylketonuria, congenital hypothyroidism, congenital adrenal hyperplasia, cystic fibrosis, MCAD deficiency and sickle cell disease). This will bring the total to thirteen rare diseases sought at birth.
It should also be noted that in 2023, experiments could be carried out, in certain territories, to generalize neonatal screening for sickle cell disease to all newborns. Currently, this hereditary genetic disease, which affects red blood cells, is only sought in babies from populations at risk because of their origins. You must know that sickle cell disease is the most common genetic disease in France.
All birth screenings for rare diseases are free for families.
Prevention appointments “at the key ages of life”
The Ministry of Health is establishing “prevention appointments” which will be “individualized and adapted to the needs of each person”, can we read in a press release. They will be offered at very specific periods of life: 20-25 years, 40-45 years and finally 60-65 years.. This may involve consultations of prevention of cancer or addiction but also education and information sessions for promote physical activity and sports, healthy eating, etc. “Special attention will be paid to identification of sexual and gender-based violenceto the Mental Healthto the infertility issues and to the caregiver situation “, indicates the ministry.
Regarding social protection:
Disability compensation benefit extended to intellectual disabilities and deafblindness
The criteria for being eligible for human assistance from the disability compensation benefit (PCH) have just been extended to meet the specific needs of people with intellectual, cognitive or psychological disabilities. Also concerned are so-called deafblind peoplethat is to say carriers of the double handicap of deafness and blindness.
The PCH makes it possible to finance certain expenses related to the loss of autonomy of a handicapped person (in particular the use of an auxiliary of life for the toilet and the meals, the adaptation of the housing or the vehicle, the purchase of a wheelchair or transport costs).
Health services open to all students, not just academics
People registered at the University were the only ones to benefit until now from specific health services dedicated to students. These structures are now open to all those who follow higher education, whatever their training. Thereby, they change their name to now be called “student health services” or SSE (and no longer “university health services”). Their missions are also strengthened to encompass all areas of student health, in particular mental health, sexuality, prevention and fight against addictions and nutrition.
Simplified access to complementary health insurance for young people under 25
Complementary health care (CSS) is a system that allows people on low incomes to be reimbursed for the part of their health expenses not covered by the social Security. Now, sIf an adult under the age of 25 lives under the same roof as a person who receives the RSA (revenu de solidarité active), this young person automatically benefits from the CSS.
For the care of a child, the cost of using a childminder aligned with that of the crèche
Until then, having your child looked after by a childminder cost more than putting him in a crèche. But starting this year, the final amount that families will pay will be the same for both types of childcare. To do this, the financial assistance paid to families who call on a childminder will be reassessed. In the end, parents who entrust their child to maternal assistance will spend less.
For single-parent families, childcare assistance extended up to 12 years
The financial boost paid to parents raising children alone, for the care of the latter, stopped at the age of 6 years of the children. It is now extended until they are 12 years old.
- Victory N’Sonde
- Photo credit: Getty Images