Why must we take a closer look at it?
We do not think that national solidarity should be applied in such a case! We get told all over again about the famous hole in the budget of the health care system (with increasingly numerous medicines that do not get reimbursed by the insurance any longer, etc.); this is not done in order to allow this financial abyss to grow because of shameless individuals.

How does it work?
The toreros (these " temporary entertainment workers" ) pay a contribution to the systems of the countries concerned by their shows, mostly France and Spain.
Nevertheless there is a rub in the European plan: it is the lacking harmonisation of the various social systems.
While in France the assessment basis is around 40 % and more, it is only of 20 % in Spain.
Thus: as the bull-fight market is under Spanish custodianship, the Spanish employers (empresas) control the exhibitions and the promotion of those who do the donkeywork.
Thus: the former only use a dropper to plan the French toreros' performances, who, by the way, all dream of being dubbed knight in Madrid, this international holy place of bull-massacre. But let us get back to our story:
Regulation of April 7th, 1936: The caisse des Congés Spectacles classifies toreros in the same category as "artists" in the publication of its nomenclature.
April 19th, 1983: The "lettre ministérielle" points out that with regard to the health insurance, the toreros are to be treated as entertainment artists.
Newspaper La Provence of March 22nd,2003: The toreros announce: "We want to fight bulls legally". They would give themselves the means to do so via the French government on the one hand and the European Community on the other hand.
They would found an association which became the toreros' sole employer. This association is to provide them with work contracts and the organisers of bull-fights with an invoice.
It will collect all fees. It is then to pay for the various social systems. At the same time, the MP of the département of Gard Yvan Lachaud (member of a group studying bull-fights at the French Parliament) addressed François Fillon, then Minister of Social Affairs, Employment and Solidarity, in order to obtain a simplified system for this category of "workers" with such a special specification

The French and Spanish competent authorities have agreed that for the employees pursuant to article 2 (cf. below) the French legislation is to be applied for professional activities as employees taking place in France and the Spanish legislation is to be applied for bull-fights in Spain for employers based in Spain.

Article 2: range of individual application:
The present agreement applies to the employees of whatever nationality who live and work in France and who additionally, occasionally perform bull-fights as toreros of whatever specialty according to Spanish legislation.

Octobre 2nd, 2003: Meeting at the headquarters of URSSAF of Gard in Nîmes (Gard/30)
Re.: Bull-fighters' health insurance
Participants:
For the Ministry: representatives of the Ministry of Social Affairs
For URSSAF: The President, the directors, the URSSAF inspectors in Nîmes.
For Sécurité Sociale (French health insurance): representatives of the local health insurance (Caisse Régionale d'Assurance Maladie (CRAM)).
For the bull-fighters:
The President of UVTF (Association of French cities with bull-fights).
The President of CFT (French bull-fight centre).
Representatives of cities organising bull-fights
Representatives of the French Union of banderilleros/picadors/spade attendants.
Toreros from the association "Torero France".(No more!).

Thus was born a unique counter responsible for the management of the social counter for bull-fighters for the whole country. It is URSSAF of Gard which is mandated with its management.
URSSAF of Gard was indeed assigned by a ministerial bye-law as the only organisation competent for the declaration and transfer of the contributions to the health care system for bull-fighters as soon as the French law applies to these employees. It is the sole organisation to be contacted by the organisers of bull-fights and more: wherever these take place.

January 1st, 2004: The agreement of September 25 2003 became effective

February 1st, 2004: Creation of the social counter for bull-fighters

February 12th, 2004: Ministerial circular, (signed by the director of the French health care system, Dominique Libault) DSS/5C/2C/n°60 from the Ministry of Social Affaires, Employment and Solidarity.
Ministry of Health, Family and Disabled people.

March 16th, 2005: (Newspaper: Midi-Libre in Nîmes). This counter started 917 files dossiers in 2004 and works with currently 70 employers