History: CM chooses welfare (1963-1976)
Originating from mutual assistance societies, CM has evolved over time into a dynamic organization that is active in many areas. A look back.
Leburton Law
Even at the start of compulsory health and disability insurance, the system faced problems. Financial deficits were piling up and the divergent views of socialists and Catholics stood in the way of a solution. Catholics were in favor of more autonomy for the health insurance funds, socialists wanted to give the state a greater role.
This discussion came to an end with the Leburton Act of 1963. She thoroughly reformed the health and disability insurance and determined, among other things, that doctors and health insurance funds would jointly determine the fees of the medical corps. The law also opened compulsory health insurance to the entire population. For example, the self-employed joined in 1964, albeit only for major risks.
For CM, this increase in scale had an impact on membership figures and on relations with the Christian small business association and the Farmers' Union. After 1964, the administrative bodies of the Landsbond were expanded to include representatives from these organizations.
New policy options
CM increasingly expanded the supplementary insurance system. In 1966, the Landsbond decided to take the well-being of its members as a starting point for new policy options. This meant that premium services such as maternity insurance and marriage premium were gradually abolished. From now on, CM emphasized services and reimbursements that prioritized solidarity and integration . Attention to the elderly, people with disabilities, the long-term ill and people with psychological problems grew.
Home nursing was one of the most important innovations. In 1964, the Landsbond concluded a cooperation agreement with the White-Yellow Cross. From now on, CM members could count on decent nursing care at affordable rates. At the time, CM's nurses only had social and educational tasks. In 1969 it was decided to merge the social services and the nursing services into the Social Work department .
Health Fund
The 1976 conference focused on administrative activities and health education . It led to the establishment of the Health Information and Education Service. The CM encouraged its members to live a healthier lifestyle with leaflets, posters and courses. CM wanted to be not only a health fund but also a ' health fund '.
Since the 1960s, CM has also strengthened its movement character. The former Preventive Air Cures service was renamed Youth & Health and received better professional support. With the aging population, the success of the Christian Associations of Pensioners also increased. Sick care CM evolved in 1971 into a full-fledged movement by and for the chronically ill with numerous local branches. Both KBG and Ziekenzorg CM grew into a pressure group that defended the interests of its members at the highest level. CM also wanted to provide its members with assistance in disputes with, among others, healthcare providers.