The government plans to double medical deductibles from the end of March

Europe 1 with AFP 6:55 p.m., January 22, 2024

The government has launched the process of doubling franchises on boxes of medicine, paramedical procedures, medical transport, and participation in consultations and biology examinations, effective from the end of March, he said on Monday.

“The government is undertaking the necessary consultations”, and “the new amounts of franchises and fixed contributions should come into force” at the end of March for the franchise part and “by the beginning of June” for the rest, indicated the ministries of Economy, Labor, and Health and Solidarity.

The annual ceiling set at 50 euros for people affected by a serious pathology "is maintained", they added.

The government is thus formalizing a measure discussed since the fall, but widely criticized by opposition parties and patient associations.

Deductibles that will increase boxes of medicines 

Deductibles will be doubled to 1 euro on boxes of medicines and paramedical procedures, fixed contributions to 2 euros for doctors' procedures and consultations, medical biology examinations and analyses, and the deductible to 4 euros for transport sanitary facilities.

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The deductibles and fixed contributions are not applicable “to minors, to women who benefit from maternity insurance” and “to beneficiaries of complementary solidarity health insurance”, recalled the ministry.

Emmanuel Macron showed his support for this measure during his press conference last week.

“I don’t have the feeling that we are committing a terrible crime”

“To say that we are going to go from 0.50 to 1 euro” per box of medicines, “I don’t have the feeling that we are committing a terrible crime, but I think that it creates responsibility and that it is a good measure ", he estimated.

“Medicine, care, medications, they don’t cost anything,” he said.

The social protection system “already takes care of a lot, almost everything”.

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The measure should bring in 800 million euros, according to government estimates.

The executive needs these 800 million euros to generate revenue linked to the “responsibility of policyholders” provided for in the Social Security budget for 2024 (LFSS).