The French government has confirmed plans to reduce the share of some healthcare costs – including dentist visits and medical transport – that are covered by the public health system.
Health Minister Stéphanie Rist said the changes will be introduced by decree rather than through a parliamentary vote as part of efforts to decrease France’s growing Social Security deficit.
For most people, the immediate impact is unlikely to be a larger bill at the doctor’s office.
But the reforms could mean higher mutuelle premiums in the future and increased costs for people who regularly use certain healthcare services.
What is changing?
France’s healthcare system reimburses a percentage of most medical costs through the state health insurance system (Assurance maladie). Patients either pay the remaining amount themselves or, more commonly, have it covered by a complementary health insurance policy (mutuelle).
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The government now wants to increase this remaining share, known as the ticket modérateur (co-payment), for several categories of care.
According to Health Minister Stéphanie Rist, draft decrees have been sent to health insurance bodies covering:
- visits to dentists,
- medical transport for appointments or non-emergency use,
- medication considered to have moderate or low medical benefit.
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The exact reimbursement rates have not yet been published, but the principle is that the state will pay a smaller share of these costs than it does today.
Why is the government doing this?
The government says the aim is to slow the growth of healthcare spending rather than to simply cut costs.
France’s Social Security system is expected to post a deficit of more than €20 billion, and ministers argue that healthcare spending is increasing faster than available funding.
Rist told France Info that broader reforms to the healthcare system will be presented later this summer ahead of discussions on the 2027 Social Security budget.
Will you pay more?
That depends on your situation. If you have a mutuelle, there may be little immediate difference when receiving treatment because complementary health insurance usually covers the co-payment.
However, mutuelle insurers warn they will have to absorb an estimated €1.5-1.7 billion in additional costs if the state reduces reimbursements.
The industry body Mutualité Française has warned that this could eventually lead to higher insurance premiums, although the government says it is in discussions with insurers in the hope of limiting price rises.
If you do not have a mutuelle, you are more likely to notice the changes directly because you will personally pay a larger share of the affected healthcare costs.
According to official figures, around 95 percent of people in France have mutuelles, either through an employer, a private policy or state-supported schemes such as Complémentaire santé solidaire (C2S).Â
When will the changes take effect?
The government has not yet announced an implementation date.
The measures are being introduced by decree rather than through Parliament, which means they could come into force relatively quickly once the legal texts are finalised and published.
More details, including the new reimbursement rates for each type of treatment, are expected when the decrees are officially published.