Mathieu Priore / Photo credits: Jean-Marc Barrere / Hans Lucas / Hans Lucas via AFP 5:52 a.m., March 31, 2024
The doubling of the medical deductible comes into force this Sunday, March 31. It is now 1 euro per box of medicine instead of 50 cents. In a pharmacy in the 4th arrondissement of Paris, the news does not rejoice the customers.
The amount of medical deductibles doubles from this Sunday, March 31. It increases to 1 euro on each box of medicine (instead of 50 cents previously), up to a maximum of 50 euros per year. The government had announced its intention to make those with social insurance pay a little more for their healthcare consumption, by increasing the non-reimbursed portion.
In a pharmacy in the 4th arrondissement of Paris, being charged more does not please customers. “It’s always the same people who will pay, that’s what annoys me,” laments a first Parisian at the microphone of Europe 1.
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“It’s quite serious, and it adds to a lot of things. I think it’s a lot, it struck me when I heard that,” criticizes a second customer. “It may seem insignificant to some, but won’t it be more later, in a few years, 5-10 years?”, asks a third person.
Customers “will favor large boxes”
The annual ceiling remains unchanged at 50 euros, which means that from the 51st box of medicine, there is nothing more to pay. Now to save money, you have to be strategist. Imène, pharmacist, gives a tip. "I think that they (customers) will favor large boxes so that they can only be charged 1 euro on this format, whereas if they take 30-day boxes, they will necessarily have after three months , 3 euros deducted from the Social Security reimbursement."
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The deductibles double and also increase to 1 euro with the nurse or physiotherapist. All these increases should bring 800 million euros per year to the State.