French health minister proposes lower reimbursement of medicine
Patients (or their top-up insurance) will need to pay more if the proposal goes ahead
The shortfall in reimbursement would need to be met by patients or their top-up health insurance
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The French government has proposed plans to reduce state reimbursement of medication and medical consultations by 5%, with the shortfall made up by patients or their private insurance policies.
Health Minister Geneviève Darrieussecq put forward the idea as the Senate began discussions on the 2025 Budget on Monday, November 18.
If it goes ahead, the change would come into force next year (2025).
Ms Darrieussecq said: “The co-payment (ticket modérateur) on drugs [i.e. the amount left to be paid by patients after reimbursement by the Assurance-maladie] will increase by 5%.”
This ‘co-payment’ is usually paid for by the patient or by their top-up /mutuelle private health insurance if they have one.
The minister also proposed plans to increase the co-payment for medical consultations by 10%.
The government initially proposed plans to reduce the reimbursement rate for consultations from 70% to 60%. In future they will lIkely be reimbursed at 65%.
It also wants to reduce the three existing reimbursement rates for medicines (65%, 30% and 15%) by the same proportion.
If the changes go ahead, it will be by ministerial decree.
Impact on top-up insurance
Yet, former Health Minister Frédéric Valletoux has warned of the potential impact of the measures on the cost of mutuelles and top-up health insurance, as the extra costs will simply be transferred over to these policies, said Ms Darrieussecq.
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The proposals come amid many government suggestions for ways to shave billions off the country’s deficit, and dramatically reduce costs.
The Senate is continuing its debates on the Budget, which is set to be voted on by the Assemblée Nationale today (November 19) and is yet to be approved by the higher chamber. The budget could also be forced through by the government using a mechanism known as 49.3.
Read also: France’s 2025 budget will ‘probably’ be forced through without vote, says PM
