Though some seem to think they are. You get quite an interesting response from some when you ask them questions. I’m not particularly interested in challenging them but I want to understand what they’re proposing and why. Some of them really don’t like it.
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I’ve always found it useful to question everything, especially significant health interventions
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Thoroughly agree. After all it is MY body we are talking about - not theirs. 
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indeed Jane. As I mentioned in my PM, the views of my Irish and French consultants differ. My Irish consultant is (ironically) German and rather black and white ( no shit Sherlock) and my French one more is more nuanced. This makes decisions difficult, but better informed. I think one has to gather as much information as possible. That’s a general principle. But as a non medic I personally wouldn’t comment on specific matters.
How old are you?
I am 55.
Better value premiums!
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I’m not sure I agree with that model. If one has been prudent and paid into a mutuel for forty or fifty years and obviously (and hopefully) not really availed of the benefits while younger, should one be penalised in later years with higher premiums? Not very “mutuelle” IMO.
The Mutuelle aspect is more about being not for profit, it is not a savings scheme that you pay into. So the amounts paid at different ages should be appropriate to the costs incurred by that cohort. Tightly regulated and members can have a say in governance.
If one doesn’t use it then just be grateful to be healthy.
Not to be confused with complémentaire santé provided by the likes of major profit making insurance companies like Axa. But these days everyone just uses mutuelle.
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Everything in the above article is true, and I didn’t have any mutuelle for several years, but I admit that I’ve had a relatively basic one since several years now, despite the points mentioned in the above article.
Even during years that I have had several medical visits or interventions, the money refunded never amounts to what I’ve put in. However I continue having a mutuelle and for reasons that I cannot explain, I feel very hesitant to stop continuing, maybe sub-contiously superstitious of it bringing on health problems!
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Sorry, I’ve just noticed that the above article is no longer available to people who aren’t signed-up. It basically said that there’s always ways to get free health cover and avoid having a mutuelle if you plan correctly.
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That’s the difficulty. Most people who end up making use of their mutuelle are unable to plan for a major medical event (other than by sticking to a healthy lifestyle, but even then…).
Yes, it’s fear of a major medical event that keeps us paying into mutuelles even if logic and mathematics tell us that we’d usually be better off just using the money we put into mutuelles to pay the medical costs that are covered by the mutuelles.
There’s no way of knowing. As a result of an unexpected medical emergency at the start of 2024 I was prescribed one particular drug. The monthly bill for that drug alone is about 10€ less than my monthly mutuelle bill which I regard as very cost effective.
Except that quite often the major events are things like heart issues and cancer. Both of which we know from personal experience are ALD, so we don’t pay anyway. And yes, we do have mutelles, but not sure what for and hope never to find out. (Other than miniscule reimbursements for dentist and eyes.)
Good point, Sue but not all life-long conditions are covered by ALD.
In general, I’m a great believer in self-insurance and I reckon this process has saved me many thousands of pounds and euros over the years.
In my particular case and present situation, I have found my mutuelle to be very good value, with the address bonus that it removes the worry of financial stress should any unexpected nasties arrive to take me by surprise.
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Just rude ! 
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Curious to know what these ways are?
Could you give me further information on how to get free health cover?