The French government is introducing increases to so-called 'forfaits'—fees charged to patients for hospitalization or emergency department visits—to save hundreds of millions of euros for the social insurance system. The new rates will take effect on March 1. The additional cost will be shifted to private supplementary insurance or to patients themselves. According to various estimates, savings for the state budget will amount to 400 to 450 million euros annually.

Fee increase from March 1

The government has decided to raise fees charged to patients for hospital stays and ER visits, effective March 1, 2026.

Savings for the insurance system

The reform aims to save 400 to 450 million euros annually for the French social insurance system (Sécurité sociale).

Cost shifted to patients

The increase will directly affect patients, who will have to pay more unless they have private supplementary insurance to cover the rise.

Consultation procedure

Regulatory documents have been submitted to the National Council of the Health Insurance Fund (Cnam) for an opinion, which is purely consultative.

The French government has prepared a reform that, starting March 1, 2026, will increase fees borne by patients for hospitalization and visits to hospital emergency departments (ERs). This decision, based on draft regulations and a decree, aims to boost revenue for the state social insurance system (Sécurité sociale). According to various press sources, annual budget savings are estimated at 400 to 450 million euros. In practice, the increase concerns so-called forfaits, fixed fees charged to patients in specific situations. For hospitalization, the daily stay fee will rise, and for ERs—the admission fee. Under current rules, these fees are typically reimbursed by the state health insurance fund, but their increase means a higher burden for patients. Those with private supplementary insurance (complémentaire santé) can expect reimbursement from that policy. Individuals without such insurance will have to cover the increase out of pocket. The government's Directorate of Social Insurance has submitted five draft implementing acts—four draft regulations (arrêtés) and one draft decree (décret)—to the National Council of the Health Insurance Fund (Conseil de la Caisse nationale d’assurance maladie, Cnam) for mandatory, though purely advisory, consultation. The French healthcare system, based on the Bismarck model, has faced financial problems for decades. Since the 1990s, successive governments have introduced various co-payments (ticket modérateur) and forfaits to curb abuse and co-finance the system. In 2000, universal health coverage (CMU) was introduced, followed by its complementary version (CMU-C), aimed at protecting the poorest.The draft documents were initially revealed by the specialized news service Contexte, then confirmed by AFP and other media. Details of the new rates are not yet publicly known, but the announcement alone has sparked reactions. Critics accuse the government of essentially shifting costs onto citizens and private insurers instead of effectively reforming public healthcare spending. Supporters argue it is a necessary step to maintain the financial balance of a system under significant pressure post-COVID-19 pandemic. The Ministry of Health and Social Insurance emphasized in an official statement that the goal is to "ensure the long-term financial sustainability of the Sécurité sociale." „« Les mesures envisagées visent à assurer la soutenabilité financière de la Sécurité sociale à long terme, tout en préservant l’accès aux soins. »” — Ministry of Health and Social Insurance