Social security 2017

The social security deficit continued to narrow, from -€10.3 billion in 2015 to -€7 billion in 2016, without further revenue increases and through a structural effort. Social debt continued its decline, which began in 2015. These positive findings show that the actions undertaken are achieving results. However, they are accompanied by persistently high deficits in health and old-age insurance. Repayment of part of the social debt is still not organised. In addition, the return to balanced accounts was delayed by one year, from 2019 to 2020. Reforms are not only necessary but possible, in order to ensure a sustainable financial balance of social accounts, in particular health insurance. Better, better and safer access to healthcare goes hand in hand with tighter control of health insurance expenditure, as illustrated by the Court’s findings. This report is available on [the Court’s website.](https://www.ccomptes.fr/en/publications/securite-sociale-2017) The published files correspond to the data that served as the basis for the preparation of the report.