The price of drugs could increase for the French in 2024. The government is indeed considering increasing the remainder payable by those reimbursed. Explanations.
The law is 15 years old. Already, at the time, the measure of the Fillon government had made people cringe. The hypothesis put forward by Elisabeth Borne’s team is just as tense, especially since it has been publicly confirmed by the head of government: in 2024, the rest to be borne by the French when purchasing reimbursed drugs could increase from 50 cents to €1. “It’s one of the tracks that are on the table,” said the Prime Minister, Wednesday August 23, 2023 on France Blue.
Beyond the remaining charge which would be increased, there is the question of the annual ceiling: each year, a French person cannot have more than €50 deductible on all medical acts or services. Leaving it as is would lead to this ceiling being reached more quickly and, therefore, additional expenditure for the State once this ceiling is exceeded (since the French do not pay more than €50 per year). The doubling of the ceiling is therefore to be considered, even if Elisabeth Borne wanted to be reassuring: “it will remain the same for people who have long-term conditions.”
Nothing is done for the time being. The deputies will debate it in the coming weeks in the National Assembly as part of the examination of the Social Security financing bill.
The medical deductible is an amount that is deducted from reimbursements made by social security on prescribed drugs, paramedical acts and medical transport.
In France, everyone must pay a remainder on reimbursed medicines (ie on prescription). Everyone, or almost, since exceptions exist. The following are exempt from the remaining charge:
- children and young people under the age of 18;
- beneficiaries of Complementary Solidarity Health or State Medical Aid (AME);
- pregnant women from the 1st day of the 6th month of pregnancy until the 12th day after delivery;
- minors for contraception and emergency contraception without parental consent;
- victims of an act of terrorism, for health costs related to this event.
In addition, and in order not to penalize people who suffer from long illnesses or chronic illnesses in particular, ceilings on the remaining dependents have been put in place and cannot be exceeded. At most, one person will only have to pay per year 50€ of remainder to be paidmedicines, medical transport and paramedical acts combined.
The payment of the remaining charge on drugs or medical acts is not made by direct payment of 50ct to the pharmacy or practitioner, by credit card or cash. In reality, when you pay for reimbursable drugs or a medical act, it is at the time of reimbursement that the puncture takes place. The patient receives a refund up to what the social security and his mutual support, less 50ct. The reimbursement is therefore reduced by the remaining charge.
For people benefiting from third-party payment, that is to say who pay nothing, the deductible will be recovered during the reimbursement of a next medical act that the person will have to pay.