Medical consultation: the remaining cost will increase from 1 to 2 euros from May 15th.

It could have been three euros. But in the end it will only be two euros. The fixed contribution, that is, the patient contribution that is not reimbursed by health insurance or supplementary health insurance, will double from 15 May and increase from 1 to 2 euros. This decision, according to our information, was made by the council of the Union of Health Insurance Funds (Uncam) on March 21, voting for it by 11 votes out of 18 of its members.

The regulation published on February 16 effectively left the organization with the option of setting this “remaining fee,” which until now had been one euro, in the range of two to three euros. Over the course of a full year, this measure should save more than 400 million euros.

Therefore, from May 15, you will have to pay two euros for each consultation or procedure carried out by a doctor (GP or specialist), x-ray examination or biological tests. This applies to all adult patients, with the exception of pregnant women from the 6th month of pregnancy (and until the 12th day after birth) and recipients of complementary solidarity care (C2S) or public health assistance (SOUL).

The annual ceiling remains at 50 euros per person.

Specifically, for a GP consultation of €26.50, the consultation is theoretically reimbursed at 70% or €18.55. Thus, with a fixed contribution of 2 euros, the amount actually reimbursed by the Health Insurance Fund will be only 16.55 euros. In case of payment to a third party, the amount of the fixed fee will be refunded upon subsequent reimbursement.

In all cases, this contribution does not apply to the dental surgeon, to care provided by a midwife or paramedic (nurse, physiotherapist, speech therapist, etc.) or even in the context of a surgical procedure. The fixed contribution is still limited to 4 euros per day per health worker. First of all, the amount will always be limited to 50 euros per year per person. But more patients will reach it faster.

Health insurance should save 800 million euros

This increase in fixed premiums comes in addition to doubling medical deductibles for first aid kits, paramedical procedures and medical transport, which took effect on March 31. From now on, each patient must pay 1 euro out of pocket for a box of medicines and for a paramedical procedure (compared to 0.50 euros before) and 4 euros for medical transport (compared to 2 euros). The daily medical deductible limit has also doubled to €4 per day for paramedical procedures and €8 per day for medical transport (no daily limit for medicines). A specific ceiling of 50 euros per year also applies.

In total, doubling fixed premiums and medical deductibles should save health insurance €800 million. Last fall, when the two measures were proposed, former Health Minister Aurélien Rousseau estimated that the two measures would lead to an average additional cost of 17 euros per year per patient.