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Old people do not, on average, have sufficient income to cover the cost of dependence, and expenses not covered by the national insurance system may be much higher than the old-age benefit ceiling. Old people are generally helped by their family and protected by the support obligation, though they do not wish to be a financial burden for their children. Dependence insurance offers an attractive alternative. In France, since 1985, almost one and a half million contracts have been taken out, and the number of new contracts increases by around 25% each year. Traditional benefits includes life annuities, capital to cover initial expenses and support services. Under personal protection schemes , in return for regular contributions, the amounts paid out in the event of dependence are stated in the contract. Under saving schemes , the amounts paid out depend on the quantity of capital accumulated on the date the policy holder becomes dependent. If the holder does not become dependent, the capital is released at a date stated in the contract, or when he or she dies. Personal insurance is subscribed individually, resulting in a real risk of antiselection. Insurers therefore demand a medical examination at the time of subscription and impose an age limit for subscribers. Group insurance , on the other hand, is taken out by an employer to cover all personnel. The cost is therefore lower than for personal insurance thanks to greater anticipation and broader mutualization. Supply and demand nevertheless remain limited. Contracts are difficult to sell because French people underestimate the costs of dependence and are reluctant to envisage a future loss of autonomy. Moreover, as they may not become dependent for thirty years or more after taking out the contract, the benefits may have become obsolete and the insurance and/or assistance companies may have disappeared in the meantime. Selling these contract is also risky for insurers due to the disproportionate number of baby-boomers now reaching a critical age, due to inadequate knowledge of the life expectancy of dependent persons and to the lack of maturity of the constituted portfolios.