The French government has introduced the Social Security Financing Bill for 2025 in response to a projected deficit of 18 billion euros in 2024. The bill aims to reduce this deficit to 16 billion euros by implementing cuts to healthcare spending and delaying pension adjustments.
One of the notable changes proposed in the bill is a reduction in the reimbursement rate for medical consultations. Currently, health insurance covers 70% of consultation fees, but this will be lowered to 60%. This adjustment is expected to save around 1.1 billion euros. As a result, the cost of a consultation with a general practitioner will increase from €26.50 to €30 starting December 22, 2024. This may lead to increased reliance on supplementary health insurance, potentially driving up its costs.
The bill also suggests reducing daily allowances for sick leave. While the compensation will remain at 50% of the daily wage, the reimbursement ceiling will be lowered from 1.8 times the minimum wage to 1.4 times. This change aims to cut sick leave costs by approximately 600 million euros. Employees will need to inform their employers within 24 hours of their absence and file a declaration with the social security department to comply with the new regulations.
Furthermore, the bill calls for negotiations to lower the costs of medical imaging and biological analyses. If these negotiations do not yield results, the government plans to impose reductions by law. The bill also aims to enhance the oversight of medical prescriptions, particularly for tests and imaging, with anticipated savings of around 300 million euros.
Regarding pensions, there will be a six-month delay in pension increases. Instead of being adjusted on January 1, retirement pensions will now be adjusted on July 1, 2025. This delay is projected to save the state budget nearly €4 billion in 2025. However, the financial support provided to low-income seniors (Allocation de Solidarité aux Personnes Agées) will still be revalued as scheduled on January 1.
In contrast to the austerity measures, the bill includes provisions to improve financial assistance for certain groups. The MonSoutienPsy scheme will be enhanced, allowing direct access for patients, an increase in session costs, and an expansion of covered sessions from eight to twelve per year. Additionally, reforms to the childcare supplement will extend financial aid to single-parent families until their child reaches the age of 12, up from the current limit of six years.
The proposed changes in the Social Security Financing Bill reflect a broader strategy to address the financial challenges faced by the French state. The implications for household budgets and the healthcare system will be closely monitored by citizens and financial analysts. The discussions in Parliament will be crucial in determining the final shape of these measures and their potential impact on the French economy.