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163305 tn?1333668571

France slated to offer abortions for free

Bill passed by parliament reimburses cost for all unwanted pregnancies and provides minors full contraceptive access.

France's lower house has voted to fully reimburse abortions and to make contraception free for minors.

The bill passed by the National Assembly on Friday would make all abortions free and would also pay for contraception for those between 15 and 18.

It will now go to the Senate, where it is likely to pass.

"Women who want to stop an unwanted pregnancy have the right to be covered. The enactment of the right to choose to halt a pregnancy is an obligatory state service,'' the bill says.

National medical insurance currently pays in full for abortions only for minors and the poor, while other women are reimbursed for up to 80 per cent of the procedure's total cost, which can be as much as $580.

Contraception is partially reimbursed.

Some groups complain that price is only one impediment to abortion access. They say too few doctors offer the procedure and there needs to be more information about who does.

Under the bill, reimbursements would not go beyond $580 and some medical service providers in France charge more than that for an abortion.

While some segments of French society oppose the right to abortion, the issue rarely makes headlines.

France is among the European countries that allow minors to have abortions without parental consent, and in 1988, was the first country to introduce RU-486, which terminates pregnancy by causing the embryo to detach from the uterine wall.

http://www.aljazeera.com/news/europe/2012/10/2012102721627831625.html
32 Responses
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377493 tn?1356502149
Abortions (for everyone) are covered here under our National health plan, providing it is before 20 weeks.  After that I believe it is illegal unless mom's life is in danger.  But it is fully covered and performed in the hospital.  I'm not sure about the issue around minors.

Contraception (if prescription) is also covered here under the same portion that covers all prescriptions according to your drug plan (anywhere from 50% to 100%).  My plan covers 100%.
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480448 tn?1426948538
Wow...20 weeks???  Really?  That's insane considering some preemies are surviving at 22-23 weeks.  IMO.
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1310633 tn?1430224091
It's a good thing we're not France.

Phew... my tax-dollars are safe!
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377493 tn?1356502149
That's the standard right now.  Not sure about the US, but here, a fetus is not considered viable until 20 weeks.  So up until then, it's legal and fully funded.  I remember when I had my amnio when I was pregnant with Ryder.  My NT and blood work had given him a 1:13 chance of having DS.  They talked to us about our options, and told me we could choose to terminate up to 20 weeks.  Just for the record, we were having him DS or not - there was no way I was NOT having that baby.  But that is the law here.
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163305 tn?1333668571
As we go backwards, France goes forward.

We have an  overpopulated planet that absolutely no one here wants to discuss.
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377493 tn?1356502149
I don't disagree with the fact that our planet is overpopulated.  I do admit I shy away from keeping abortion legal just as a result of that.  I remain completely pro choice, but I guess it invokes visions in my head of abortion just to keep the population under control?  I know that is absolutely not the intent nor meaning behind what your saying it's just what my own mind conjures up, and for whatever reason, that is difficult for me.  I know your right about the population issue though, and it is getting worse.  
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973741 tn?1342342773
Oh boy.  Again, so very very glad this isn't France.  By the way, anyone know the tax rate in France???
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973741 tn?1342342773
Oh, that's right. I think it is highest in the world.  up to . . . 75%!  Did I say up to 75%?  Why yes I did.
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480448 tn?1426948538
We have an  overpopulated planet that absolutely no one here wants to discuss.

Let's discuss it!  Pregnancy is is 100% preventable, and there are many ways to keep from having unwanted children, abortion, IMO, shouldn't be one of them.

That being said, I do understand birth control fails, it happened to me with my daughter, but again, I just don't think abortion should be a form of birth control.
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377493 tn?1356502149
But we already have this in Canada and have for a very very long time....at least 20 years.  And our tax rate is not 75%.....not even close.  Sorry my friend, but had to point that out cause I'm me! lol.
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Avatar universal
I normally just skim through this forum, but since I saw something about France, I wanted to comment.  I am not one to "stomach" politics.  

I will totally agree with Orphanhawk that we are a progressive country.  

Sorry SM, love you and all....but you aren't really correct about the taxes here.  Plus, that isn't really the point here.  

NG.......this isn't about using "abortion as a form of birth control."  This is about giving patients options without having to worry about costs.  

All our tax money isn't going towards "funding abortions."  To add, we don't have a serious health care coverage issue going on here as you all have in the US.

I am willing to pay higher taxes if it means EVERYONE will be able to have medical coverage.  

That's two cents coming from a Parisian.  

Vive la France!
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973741 tn?1342342773
I know, yours goes up to 29%.  There is a really handy chart.  The average tax rate in the US is 15% and up to 35%.  We just can't afford more taxes in the US.  (at least, I can't.)
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973741 tn?1342342773
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tax_rates_around_the_world
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973741 tn?1342342773
We have a very strong pro life group of people in the US and their objection is that they do not want their taxes to go for abortions.  It is more complex here than the cost of it.  Whether one agrees or not, as I am in the middle of the issue, there are pro choice people and pro life people here and that is really what the problem is.  
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377493 tn?1356502149
SM, I think the healthcare debate (national vs privatized) is always where you and I find ourselves the furthest apart isn't it....lol.  

I agree...higher taxes aren't good.  However, the higher tax would be offset by what you are currently paying in premiums.  I bet it would work out about the same.  

I will also say that I'm glad we have this procedure covered, I really am.  It is treated as a medical issue and women are given a high standard of care should they seek this out.  And again, I will say, it is rarely being used for birth control.  What I mean is, it's rarely a calleous decision made because mom doesn't care.  For most it's a huge decision and not made lightly.  
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Avatar universal
Sorry.....wikipedia isn't really the "bible" in regards to information about taxes in France.   I LIVE here.  In this country if you make a substantial amount of money you are going to pay the high taxes.....not like in the USA where the affluent and privilege are getting tax cuts.  That's all I have to say about that.  

I am pro choice and have NO problem with this.  

Thanks Orphanedhawk for this post.  



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Avatar universal
Absolutely Adgal.  
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377493 tn?1356502149
It sounds like our countries tax policies are very similar.  You do pay a higher percentage here too if you are in a higher tax bracket.  My household is about the middle, and I'm ok with that.  I recently met a couple from France - they were fairly new to Canada, and said much is the same in terms of taxes and political policies.  Interesting.
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480448 tn?1426948538
If abortions are not being used as a form of birth control...as in, when people decide they aren't going to bother with condoms or the pill and SURPRISE!  They're pregnant!....then I'm not sure what else to call it.  That sure seems like BC to me.

SM articulates very well the issue about pro-life vs pro-choice, and why MANY people in the US wouldn't be okay with their tax money going towards funding abortions.  While I'm in the middle of the issues, personally, I would agree.

.....not like in the USA where the affluent and privilege are getting tax cuts.  That's all I have to say about that.
LOL, according to our dems, not under Obama!!  ;0)

Different strokes for different folks for sure.

Two countries that are structured very differently, it's kind of difficult to compare the two.
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Avatar universal
Yes, you are absolutely correct.  My husband and I are in a higher tax bracket and I am ok with that as I don't believe my euros are being squandered.   I will agree Canada and France are similiar in these regards.  
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Avatar universal
Last post was to you.  
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Avatar universal
LOL, never said anything about SM's articulation.....just made a comment about the tax statement.  Anyways......lol.  

You are truly assuming a whole lot about what people are doing here in regards to bc and abortions being that you DON'T live here.  

I am not here to discuss any Obama policies or the American democratic party, etc.  You should make another post for that.  No interest at all to do that.

And yes, in no way, shape or form can you compare the two countries.  

That's ok dear because it is MY euros going for this not yours.  I am giving this the "thumbs up" to do this with MY euros.  I am PRO CHOICE.  You are entitled to be whatever it is you want to be just as I am.  

As I have stated there are "pro-life" people in France too......not everyone is walking around claiming to be "pro-choice" and wanting this.  

This will probably pass here in my opinion.  

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163305 tn?1333668571
I agree that wikipeadia though often interesting is not the last word in facts, especially since anyone can and does contribute to it.

Nobody talks about abortion as birth control, although there is no doubt that it does keep the population down as any means of preventing birth does.

Education and affordable birth control should always be the first line of defense in keeping our numbers down.

The argument about people here being opposed to abortion not wanting their tax dollars spend on it, could be expanded to the many things individuals or groups of people don't want their tax dollars spent on.
For example, I don't want mine spent on drones, or more nuclear weapons, or wars.
If people are pro-life shouldn't they  be concerned about the quality of life for those of us already living here on the planet ? You might think they'd also be opposed to the death penalty.

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973741 tn?1342342773
My pro life friends are against the death penalty.  My religion is against euthenasia of any sort.  
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