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HealthFrench government revives plan to double medical deductible cap to €200
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French Health Minister Stéphanie Rist announced on July 23, 2026, the government's intention to double the annual cap on medical deductibles from €100 to €200 per patient. The plan, which was abandoned in autumn 2025 during budget debates, would increase the maximum out-of-pocket costs for medications, paramedical procedures, medical transport, and doctor visits. Currently, patients pay a €1 deductible per medication box and a €2 flat-rate contribution per consultation, with annual caps of €50 each. The minister argued the threshold has not changed in twenty years, while deductibles themselves doubled in 2024. The decision faces widespread opposition from healthcare sector stakeholders. The article notes that the system was largely introduced under President Nicolas Sarkozy in 2008.
Source report
Stéphanie Rist, Minister of Health, at the National Assembly in Paris, June 30, 2026. ALICE SACCO/REUTERS
The government has revived a controversial cost-saving plan to double the annual cap on medical deductibles, Health Minister Stéphanie Rist announced on RMC radio on Thursday, July 23. The plan was originally abandoned at the last minute during budget debates in autumn 2025.
Key Details
- The government will "double" the maximum annual amount patients pay for medications and consultations.
- The current annual cap is €100 per patient (€50 for deductibles and €50 for flat-rate contributions).
- The new cap would rise to €200 per patient per year.
Background on Medical Deductibles
The term "medical deductibles" encompasses several charges introduced largely under Nicolas Sarkozy's presidency in 2008:
- €1 deductible per box of medication, paramedical procedures, and medical transport (up to €4)
- "Flat-rate contributions" of €2 per doctor visit, radiological exams, and biological analyses
These amounts apply to most insured individuals, including patients with long-term conditions.
Minister's Justification
Minister Rist noted that the annual cap has not "changed in twenty years," while the deductibles themselves were doubled in 2024.
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Source
Politique : Toute l’actualité sur Le Monde.fr.Western
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French Government Revives Controversial Plan to Double Medical Deductible Caps to €200