France plans new healthcare reimbursement reforms shifting costs to private insurers

Friday 24 July 2026 - 10:45

By: Sahili Aya

France plans new healthcare reimbursement reforms shifting costs to private insurers

The French government has launched a new phase of healthcare reimbursement reforms that would transfer a larger share of medical costs from the national health insurance system to supplementary private health insurers. The proposed measures form part of broader efforts to manage public healthcare spending while preserving access to essential medical services.

Health Minister Stéphanie Rist announced that draft decrees have been submitted for consultation with France's health insurance authorities, initiating the formal process for revising reimbursement rates across several categories of healthcare.

Reimbursement rates to be adjusted

The proposed reforms would reduce the proportion of costs covered by the national Health Insurance system for a range of services, including dental consultations, medical transport, selected medical devices, and certain medicines considered to provide lower therapeutic value.

As a result, supplementary health insurance providers, commonly known as mutual insurers, would assume a greater share of reimbursement for these treatments.

Higher cap on medical deductibles

In addition to the reimbursement changes, the government has proposed doubling the annual ceiling for patients' medical deductibles from €100 to €200. The measure follows an announcement made by Minister Rist a day earlier and is intended to contribute to the sustainability of France's healthcare financing model.

Five draft decrees have been submitted as part of the reform package, with four addressing reimbursement adjustments and a fifth covering the revised deductible limit.

Government seeks to limit impact on insurance premiums

The planned changes have raised questions about whether increased responsibilities for supplementary insurers could lead to higher premiums for policyholders.

Stéphanie Rist said the government is working closely with complementary insurance providers through consultations and negotiations to minimise the potential impact on the cost of private health coverage.

The reforms remain subject to the consultation process before they can be formally adopted, but they signal the government's intention to rebalance healthcare financing while maintaining the long-term viability of France's public health insurance system.