From March 1, you risk being less reimbursed. In order to allow Social Security to make more than 400 million euros in savings per year, the government is in fact considering increasing several “packages” applied during hospitalization.
Four draft decrees as well as a draft decree, unveiled by the media Contexte and obtained this Monday by AFP, were submitted for consultation to various bodies, such as the Health Insurance Council and the National Union of Supplementary Health Insurance Organizations, which brings together mutual societies, insurance companies and joint organizations. If these texts are adopted, several changes will take place from March 1.
Several packages will increase
From March 1, going to the hospital will cost you more. In fact, the government has sent to several bodies (including the Health Insurance Council and the National Union of Supplementary Health Insurance Bodies) four draft orders and a draft decree which would make it possible to increase several packages billed to patients.
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The daily hospital rate, which covers accommodation and maintenance costs, would thus increase from €20 to €23 per day;
- The “reduced emergency patient package” (applied in particular to certain insured persons, such as people suffering from a long-term illness or those victims of a work accident) would increase from €8.49 to €9.96;
- The “emergency patient package” (FPU), which is applied to patients going to the emergency room without subsequently being hospitalized and generally covered by complementary health insurance, will increase from 19.61 euros to 23 euros;
- Among the other changes envisaged, the flat rate required during a stay in psychiatry would be increased to €17, instead of the current €15;
- Finally, the flat-rate contribution claimed for particularly expensive medical procedures (in particular when their cost exceeds €120) would increase by 8 euros – from 24 to 32 euros.
And if complementary organizations (mutual societies, insurers and provident institutions) should cover part of these increases, many fear repercussions on the amount of contributions.
However, certain insured persons would continue to be treated at no additional cost: these are pregnant women, newborns and beneficiaries of complementary solidarity health insurance (C2S, ex-CMU).
Some French people appear to be particularly affected
But some may suffer more than others. In the country, nearly 2.5 million people are found to lack complementary health insurance.
For these policyholders, the slightest reduction in reimbursement by Health Insurance immediately translates into an additional expense for them. The major risk being that they abandon certain treatments… even though they are essential.
Considerable gains for the government
For the State, these measures would nevertheless remain necessary in order to replenish the Social Security coffers. In total, these increases should enable savings of 400 million euros for Social Security.
In a press release, the Unsa union denounces a decision “deeply unfair and socially irresponsible”, which will affect all those who are just above the poverty line, the ceilings to benefit from complementary solidarity health insurance (C2S) and who do not have complementary health insurance. Not to mention that these transfers of costs to complementary services will undoubtedly lead to increases.