French PM Lecornu doubles patients' out-of-pocket health costs

French Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu announced a policy that will double the annual ceiling for out‑of‑pocket health expenses from €100 to €200 per person. The reform raises the co‑payment for each medication box to €2 and for medical transport to €4, effectively increasing the total amount low‑income patients must pay each year.

The change is projected to affect around ten million French residents who earn below the poverty line, prompting criticism that it will further strain households already coping with heatwaves, rising energy prices and broader economic pressures. Critics argue the measure targets the most vulnerable without consultation.

The government maintains the step is necessary to curb the health‑security budget, which it says exceeds €20 billion annually, and to achieve long‑term fiscal savings.