When are doctor fees rising in France and will reimbursement be affected?
There will be two waves of increases
The first wave of increases will happen in December after a long dispute between unions and the state
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Doctors' fees will increase in France on December 22, 2024, after unions and the state health agency Assurance maladie settled a long-running dispute over healthcare costs.
The agreement signed on June 4, 2024 states the cost of a GP consultation will rise from €26.50 to €30 at the end of the year, an increase of 13.2%. However, GP teleconsultations will remain fixed at €25.
Charges for specialist consultations will also rise this December with further price increases planned for July 2025.
The increased charges will not directly affect patients covered by French social security and who have mutuelle cover / top-up health insurance (note that mutuelle / top-up health insurance cover is optional) as they are still going to be reimbursed.
In return for the improved pay, doctors agreed to reduce prescriptions, examinations (including MRI scans and laboratory tests) and distribution of sick notes where possible and safe to do so.
The agreement will last five years.
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When are doctor fees rising?
The price of most medical consultations will increase from December 22, 2024.
However, a second wave of charge increases will follow in July 2025.
| Consultation type | July 2025 | December 2024 | Current |
| GP (in-person appointments) | €30 | €30 | €26.50 |
| Paediatricians (2-6 year-olds) | €35 | €35 | €33.50 |
| Paediatricians (0-2 year-olds) | €40 | €39 | €38.50 |
| Psychiatrists (basic fees) | €57 | €55 | €51.70 |
| Gynaecologists | €40 | €37 | €33.50 |
| Elderly care specialists | €42 | €37 | €31.50 |
| Dermatologists (melanoma screening) | €60 | €54 | €47.50 |
Some over 80s could also pay €60 (fully reimbursed by social security), for a longer annual consultation with their GP from 2026.
This would be to support patients coming out of hospital, reducing medication prescriptions, and completing forms for the allocation personnalisée d’autonomie (APA) benefit.
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Will reimbursements be affected?
The increased charges will not directly affect patients with French social security cover and mutuelle / top-up health insurance cover, who will continue to have 70% of their medical costs reimbursed by the Assurance maladie, with the remaining 30% paid by their mutuelle / top-up health insurance cover.
However, the cost of mutuelles / top-up health insurance will likely rise as they will now be covering larger costs.
The agreement is set to cost the Assurance maladie €1.6billion per year.
