France Eyes Summer Cut to State Medical Reimbursements

France's government intends to lower the national health insurance reimbursement rate for medical procedures starting this summer, a move that would shift more costs onto patients and their complementary health insurers. The executive branch has informed mutual insurance and other health coverage providers of its plan to significantly increase the patient's share of medical costs through regulatory means.

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The government has just separately informed the federations of complementary health insurance of its project to strongly increase the co-payments on medical services, by regulatory means in the summer.

This potential transfer of financial responsibility from the state's Assurance Maladie to private and paritary insurance schemes has drawn sharp criticism. The Federation of Paritary Social Protection Institutions (FIPS), representing employer- and union-managed insurers, warned of "disastrous consequences." The federation stated the measures would notably diminish the purchasing power of employees and seniors, while also increasing expenses for businesses.

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This massive transfer of charges between Social Security and complementary schemes could be supplemented by other measures under consideration, particularly taxation, as part of the next social security financing bill.

FIPS argues that the government's proposed solutions primarily rely on shifting financial burdens rather than implementing a comprehensive strategy for controlling healthcare expenditures. The federation insists that restoring the financial health of the national health insurance system cannot be achieved through hastily decided cost transfers. Other major insurance federations, including those representing mutuals and private insurers, are also involved in discussions.

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Whatever the details to come, FIPS wishes to solemnly alert the government, on behalf of the social partners, to the disastrous consequences of such measures.