By the editorial staff of Allodocteurs.fr, with AFP

Written on
01/01/2021, Updated

12/31/2020 at 5:03 PM

As every year, January 1 is synonymous with the entry into application of new laws passed during the past year. What measures does 2021 have in store for us in the health sector?

A birth bonus from the 7th month

The first change concerns the birth bonus of 947.34 euros, which was previously paid after the birth. It will now be paid during the seventh month of pregnancy, for all women whose pregnancy began after September 30, 2020.

For those whose pregnancy began between June and September 2020, the premium will be paid in April 2021.

Help for disabled parents

A second change concerns parents with disabilities. These should benefit from further aid to finance material and human aid. This is the “parenting” disability compensation benefit (PCH). This aid should, for example, allow parents to finance certain childcare equipment adapted to their disability and to pay someone to help them take care of their child.

Homeopathy is no longer reimbursed

Then, from January 1, 2021, homeopathic specialties and preparations cease to be covered by social security. The delisting of homeopathy was voted by the government in July 2019. Its application has been gradual, with a delisting rate lowered from 30 to 15% a year ago, at the beginning of 2020.

Remains zero charge for hearing aids

Hearing aids join dental prostheses and glasses: they are now fully reimbursed by health insurance and complementary health insurance. This is the last stage of the “100% health” reform started in 2019.

Entry-level devices (“class 1”) are thus sold for 950 euros each and are fully reimbursed, so that the remainder payable by the insured is zero. For more sophisticated models (“class 2”), prices will remain free and reimbursement may vary from 400 to 1,700 euros.

A finer index for air quality

A new air quality index now includes fine particles (PM_2.5) the four other pollutants regulated so far aggregated by the current index: PM particles₁₀, ozone, nitrogen dioxide and sulfur dioxide.

At least at each intermunicipal level, the French will be able to know the quality of the air they breathe every day, from “good” to “extremely bad”.