2024-10-31 08:45:00
«Not for sale to women who have had breast cancer“. The CNP Assurances group, a subsidiary of Banque Postale, created a shocking fake advert to raise awareness of the difficulties faced by women who have overcome breast cancer in purchasing real estate. An advert broadcast throughout the month of October, in occasion ofPink Octobera month of mobilization around this disease. In 2023, in France, the number of new cases of breast cancer is estimated at 61,214, an increase of 0.3% per year since 2010, according to the health insurance website Ameli.fr.
Buying a property is often a journey fraught with pitfalls for these women affected by the disease. “The first problem is that this topic is taboo. As brokers, we need to know when women with breast cancer have completed chemotherapy and whether or not they are in remission. They benefit from the right to be forgotten from 5 years of remission if they do not relapse and the protocol is completed. They often don’t tell us about their illness. There is a form of embarrassment in saying that they have been ill», explains Charlotte Jehenne, Pretto broker.
A self-censorship
For many years, former cancer patients have been forced to declare their illness in health questionnaires even after remission. This medical questionnaire has been eliminated for real estate loans of less than 200,000 euros per capita and for which the end of loan repayment occurs before the borrower’s 60th birthday. “Our task is to ensure that the insurance rate falls below the loan limit of 200,000 euros per person. Our brokers direct clients to banks and insurance companies where we know that healthcare formalities are not intrusive» reassures Charlotte Jehenne.
Since 2006, former patients have also benefited from the right to be forgotten, after the end of a therapeutic protocol, in the absence of recurrence. The duration of the right to be forgotten was reduced from 10 to 5 years, under the Lemoine law, in 2022. The CNP group launched last March loan insurance without additional premiums or reductions in guaranteesand this, from the end of the therapeutic protocol and without waiting for the legal deadline of 5 years of the right to be forgotten. Although there is a right to be forgotten, some people with breast cancer censor themselves. “A woman I know doesn’t dare have her borrower’s insurance contract renegotiated. He has all the credentials and can benefit from the right to be forgotten but does not dare, for fear that he will not disappear, even if he has been in remission for 7 years», underlines Charlotte Jehenne.
Ownership as collateral
Audrey was diagnosed with the disease in June 2021, shortly before the Lemoine Law was passed. “We were renting at the time, which gave us some flexibility to change locations regularly. But when I was diagnosed with the disease, I realized how unsafe this situation was for my family. If I had already purchased, the borrower’s insurance would have covered the credit during my sick leave, there being a tenant, I was exposing my husband and our son. If I don’t overcome this situation, my family will lose a partner, a mother and to this there will be added a certain financial insecurity, this is what I told myself» confides Audrey. The Lemoine Law was adopted in February 2022 and enforced in June.
In June, Audrey, then 39, turned to the banks, determined to buy and protect her family. “I didn’t look good when I went to the bankers”remember. Audrey explained her situation in a transparent way and made it known that she wanted to stay below the fateful threshold of 200 thousand euros per person so as not to have to fill out a health questionnaire. “The banks did not yet know how it would be enforced, as it was the passage of the Lemoine Act. They never made us a loan offer“, he complains.
Audrey wanted to take out 40% mortgage insurance for herself and 60% for her partner who earned a slightly lower salary than her. Eventually the 40-year-old turned to an online bank, which agreed to give him a loan without asking any further questions and without a health questionnaire to fill out. About a month after the implementation of the Lemoine law, July 15, 2022.”I was afraid until the last moment of receiving a health questionnaire», recalls with amazement the employee of the pharmaceutical industry, cancer research and development.
«We were stayed away from the 35% debt rate. to be sufficiently broad regarding our borrowing capacity. We chose a house in the Île-de-France at a not exorbitant price to avoid the banks digging too much into the matter. Without this worry, we could have bought a newer, more expensive home, with less work to do ourselves», Audrey regrets. Today she owns a home and has been able to return to her job full time.
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Interview between Time.news Editor (T) and Charlotte Jehenne, Real Estate Broker (C)
T: Welcome, Charlotte, and thank you for joining us to discuss such a critical issue. The recent ad campaign by CNP Assurances has certainly sparked conversation. Can you tell us what inspired this bold approach to raise awareness about the challenges breast cancer survivors face when purchasing property?
C: Thank you for having me! The campaign was built around the harsh realities that many women face after overcoming breast cancer. It highlights the discrimination in lending practices they still encounter, even years after remission. Our goal was to not only create awareness but also to instigate a much-needed dialogue about these barriers.
T: It’s a shocking statement to declare properties “Not for sale to women who have had breast cancer.” What are some of the specific challenges these women face when trying to buy property?
C: Many women, unfortunately, feel uncomfortable discussing their medical history, especially when it comes to significant financial decisions like buying a home. There is a stigma attached, and often they self-censor. Even with laws like the right to be forgotten, many don’t fully trust the system or fear being judged, which can lead to significant hurdles in obtaining loans or insurance.
T: You mentioned the ”right to be forgotten.” How does this concept work, and how has it changed in recent years to help these women?
C: The right to be forgotten allows former patients to not disclose their cancer history after a certain period of remission. Until recently, this period was ten years, but it has been reduced to five years under the Lemoine Law enacted in 2022. This change has made a significant difference, but awareness about its existence is still lacking, which means many don’t take advantage of it.
T: It’s interesting to see how laws are adapting, yet personal obstacles remain. Could you share a personal story that illustrates this issue?
C: Certainly. One client, Audrey, faced a real dilemma when she was diagnosed with breast cancer. She was concerned about the financial security of her family. Despite being in remission, she didn’t feel comfortable renegotiating her insurance due to lingering fears and stigmas associated with her past illness. Her story sheds light on how this emotional burden can directly affect important financial decisions.
T: That sounds incredibly challenging for women in her situation. What advice would you give to breast cancer survivors who are looking to purchase their own homes?
C: I would encourage them to seek brokers who are knowledgeable about these issues and who advocate for their rights. It’s essential to have open communication about their medical history when they feel comfortable because we can guide them to banks that won’t impose intrusive healthcare formalities. Awareness is key—understanding their rights can make a world of difference.
T: As a broker, have you noticed a change in attitudes among lending institutions regarding clients who are breast cancer survivors?
C: Yes, slowly but surely, there is change. Many lenders are beginning to recognize the value of inclusivity and are adapting their policies to be less discriminatory. It’s crucial that this trend continues and expands, giving all individuals, regardless of their medical history, equal access to financial opportunities.
T: Thank you, Charlotte, for shedding light on this important topic. Your insights are not only valuable for those affected but also for lenders and policymakers. Any final thoughts for our readers?
C: Just a reminder that buying a home should be a possibility for everyone, regardless of their health history. I encourage anyone in a similar position to advocate for themselves and seek support. Change is possible if we continue to speak up about these issues. Thank you for having me!
T: Thank you, Charlotte, for joining us today. It’s been a pleasure, and we hope to see meaningful progress in this arena in the near future.
