Taken in its broadest sense, social protection covers all the measures, systems and benefits designed to reduce the uncertainties of life for a human community, by protecting its beneficiaries against socially identified and individually perceived risks (disability, accident, unemployment, illness, old age and, more recently, loss of autonomy). In this way, it differs from individual self-protection, based on assets, capital income, private insurance or savings. However, the fact that it is collectively organised in no way prejudices its other attributes: since the end of the 19th century, social protection can be private (secular or religious charity and company protection) or public, optional or compulsory, local or national, territorial or sectoral, professional or inter-professional. Health policies seek to extend the benefits of social protection to everyone, as in the case of universal health cover.