Medical deductibles, sick leave... The Minister of Health details the avenues being considered to curb spending

In mid-July, the Prime Minister called for health spending to be curbed by "around" five billion euros next year , notably requesting an effort to make the French people "responsible".

Catherine Vautrin points out that François Bayrou notably announced "the doubling of the ceiling on medical deductibles" to 100 euros per year (i.e., the amounts not reimbursed to the patient, set at 1 euro per box of medication). Emphasizing that "we must stop with this idea that health insurance is 'free, I'm entitled to it'," she specifies that there will be a ceiling set "at a maximum of 8 euros per month," and reaffirms that these deductibles will be paid "over the counter."

Regarding long-term illnesses (ALD), also cited by François Bayrou among the cost-cutting measures, Catherine Vautrin indicates that the first step will be to "facilitate the exit from this regime, when the doctor declares that you are fully cured of a stroke or cancer, for example." She adds that the government intends to "question the maintenance of 100% reimbursement of spa treatments and medications whose medical benefit is low for patients with ALD."

On another sensitive issue, which François Bayrou calls "a slip-up," that of sick leave, the minister explains that transferring the cost of sick leave, up to the seventh day, to the employer is an option "under consideration" and "must be discussed with social partners." "In this scenario, companies would be required to take over this additional waiting period, from the fourth to the seventh day," she says.

Catherine Vautrin also indicated that the government intends to "put an end to abuses" and wishes to "limit any initial sick leave to 15 days in general practice" and to "one month after hospital discharge," the idea being to have "a more regular reassessment of situations."

Mandatory vaccination in nursing homes?

In terms of prevention, the minister noted that "85% of nursing home residents are now vaccinated against the flu," estimating that "at least ten additional vaccination rates" remain to be achieved. "To achieve this, I would like vaccination to become mandatory for elderly people in institutions," she said.