The government has launched the process of doubling franchises on boxes of medicines, paramedical procedures, medical transport, consultations and biology examinations, which will be effective from the end of March, Bercy and the Ministry of Labor indicated this Monday, January 22, of Health and Solidarity.
“The government is undertaking the necessary consultations”, and “the new amounts of franchises and fixed contributions should come into force” at the end of March for the franchise part and “by the beginning of June” for the rest, indicated the ministries of Economy, Labor, and Health and Solidarity. The annual ceiling set at 50 euros for people affected by a serious pathology “is maintained”, they added.
The government is thus formalizing a measure discussed since the fall, but widely criticized by opposition parties and patient associations. Deductibles will be doubled to 1 euro on boxes of medicines and paramedical procedures, fixed contributions to 2 euros for doctors’ procedures and consultations, medical biology examinations and analyses, and the deductible to 4 euros for transport sanitary facilities. The deductibles and fixed contributions are not applicable “to minors, to women who benefit from maternity insurance” and “to beneficiaries of complementary solidarity health insurance”, recalled the ministry.
Last Tuesday, during his press conference, Emmanuel Macron defended the doubling of medical deductibles, to 1 euro, an increase which would not be “a terrible crime”, but a “good measure” to make those insured under social security responsible.