[REVISION HISTORY]

France health reform: franchise cap, pharmacy and dental cut

Updated 15 times since CLSTR started tracking revisions of this situation.

What changed

2026-08-28 10:48 UTC → 2026-09-12 09:12 UTC · added ~~removed~~

In late July 2026, the French government launched a health-insurance reform to address a Social Security deficit estimated between €13.8 billion and €23 billion. Initial plans to double the annual out-of-pocket medical franchise ceiling from €100 to €200 were abandoned following criticism from groups like France Assos Santé and MG France. Instead, the government proposed a revised cap of €140, split equally between medical consultations (€70) and medications/paramedical acts (€70), to be indexed to inflation moving forward. On 18 August 2026, Assurance Maladie announced further reforms to manage rising costs. Starting 1 September 2026, new third-party payment rules in pharmacies will extend upfront cost avoidance to hybrid and biosimilar medicines. Patients refusing these substitutes without medical justification must pay the full price of the original drug upfront. Additionally, the system is considering physiotherapy reimbursement reductions, such as moving to flat-rate payments or capping covered sessions, to address a projected €5.3 billion expenditure in 2025. By ~~26 August~~ 12 September 2026, the government confirmed via a decree in the Journal Officiel that the €140 medical franchise cap will take effect on 1 October 2026. ~~Further decrees published~~ Health Minister Stéphanie Rist noted that these ceilings had not been adjusted for inflation in 20 years; consequently, starting in 2028, the ~~Official Journal~~ limits will be re-evaluated annually based on inflation rates. Officials estimate the average impact will be less than one euro per month for most, or approximately two euros per month for those with long-term conditions (ALD). Approximately 18 million citizens, including minors and pregnant women, will remain exempt. Further decrees outline reimbursement cuts effective January 2027, including a reduction in common dental care reimbursement from 60% to 50%, alongside cuts for certain medications and medical devices. These measures are expected to shift approximately €1.5 billion toward complementary health insurance ~~providers, which may lead to higher premiums for insured individuals.~~ providers.

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