France Drops Plan to Double Medical Fees After Political Backlash

France Backs Down on Doubling Medical Fees

After days of intense debate, the French government has officially dropped its plan to double medical fees—the fixed amount that patients pay out of pocket for prescriptions and consultations.

The initial proposal would have raised the fee from €1 to €2 per medical act or prescription, with an annual cap increasing from €50 to €100 per person. The policy was aimed at cutting healthcare spending as part of the 2025 Sécurité Sociale (social security) budget.

However, growing opposition from MPs across the political spectrum forced the government to retreat.

Political Pressure Forces a U-Turn

Government spokesperson Maud Bregeon confirmed on TF1 that “there will be no increase in medical franchises in the current budget,” signaling an end to the controversial measure.

“The Prime Minister has been clear—we will not force this through without parliamentary agreement,” she added, acknowledging the clear pushback within the Assembly.

Finance officials, including Amélie de Montchalin, admitted the measure “could no longer fit” into the government’s fiscal roadmap after failed talks with MPs.

Yet the government insisted that budget cuts are still necessary to meet its target of around €20 billion in deficit, meaning new cost-saving measures will be sought in the months ahead.

A Tight Vote After Intense Negotiations

The vote on the revenue section of the health budget followed marathon discussions in Parliament. The Assembly eventually passed the measure by 166 votes to 140, securing a fragile majority.

Key details from the revised package include:

A reduction in the planned CSG tax increase on capital income, cutting projected revenue from €2.8 billion to €1.5 billion.
The exclusion of savings products such as life insurance, property income, and housing savings plans from the tax hike.
A potential increase in health spending targets, from 2% to 2.5% of total expenditure.

Political alliances were sharply divided. The majority party Renaissance, along with the MoDem, Socialists, and Liot independents, voted in favor. Opposition from National Rally (RN), La France Insoumise (LFI), and Green MPs was strong, while Les Républicains and Horizons abstained.

Stakes Remain High

Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu warned that rejecting the budget could have led to a record deficit exceeding €29 billion next year. The final vote, expected on December 9, will determine whether the government can balance fiscal restraint with public confidence.

Former Prime Minister Michel Barnier openly criticized the process, accusing the government of “irresponsible political manoeuvres” and saying he would not back the bill “in its current form.”

What This Means for Patients and Workers

For French residents and expatriates alike, this decision offers short-term relief from higher out-of-pocket healthcare costs. However, the debate underscores the broader challenge of financing public health sustainably without burdening households.

Observers expect new reform proposals in early 2026, possibly targeting other areas of health spending or administrative efficiency within the Assurance Maladie system.