[Hospitalization rates for immigrant-related illness among individuals with low income and full health insurance coverage in France, 2009].

Complementary Universal Health Insurance (CMUC) which provides free access to health care has been available in France since 2000 for people with an annual income less than 60% of the poverty threshold. Hospitalization rates in 2009 for common diseases among immigrants were compared between beneficiaries of the general scheme under the age of 60 years with (4.5 millions) or without CMUC (34.1 millions) in 2008 and still alive at the end of the year. Data were derived from the French national health insurance reimbursements and short-stay hospital discharge databases. Age - and sex-adjusted hospitalization rates and relative risk significantly greater overall hospitalization rates (17.5% vs 13.2%) (males RR= 2.0, female RR 2.3) and each parasitic diseases (RR = 2.1), which include viral diseases and fevers of unknown origin (1.1/1000, RR =1.6), septicaemia (0.4/1000, RR = 2.2), HIV infection (0.7/1000, RR = 3.5), other infectious and parasitic diseases (0.7/1000, RR= 2.5) and, more precisely, measles (2.7/1000, RR = 5.0). Hospitalization for sickle cell disease (3%, RR = 4.5) were also more frequent as also for lead poisoning (0.12/1000, RR = 5.2). In this low-income population with free access to health care, hospitalizations were higher for many diseases that are targets for prevention and screening actions. This is tha case for immigrant with CMUC coverage arriving in France and when they travel to their country of origin.