The deductible on boxes of medicines paid by social insurance will probably double, but will remain capped at 50 euros in total over one year, indicated the Minister of Health, Aurlien Rousseau.
Created in 2008 under the presidency of Nicolas Sarkozy, the franchise on boxes of medicines has since remained unchanged: it amounts to 50 cents per box of medicine. Its total amount is capped at 50 euros per year and per insured, beyond which everything is reimbursed. It is relatively inconspicuous for the insured person who benefits from third-party payment, since the latter does not pay anything immediately. The deductible is subsequently retained by Social Security on subsequent reimbursements.
We watch, we continue to work, we do not want people who we imagined to be protected to be affected, explained on Sud Radio Mr. Rousseau, who is currently participating in the preparation of the Social Security financing bill (PLFSS) for 2024, the presentation of which is expected at the end of September.
There will undoubtedly be a doubling of the franchise on boxes of medicine, but with a major concern: that it is not people in particular who have a long-term condition (…) who are affected. So we are not touching the ceiling of 50 euros per year. We still have a few weeks to arbitrate, said the minister.
Deductible on visits to the doctor: from 1 to 2 euros
In addition, the deductible on visits to the doctor, currently one euro, will also probably increase to two euros, he added.
Asked about the question of a revision of franchises concerning nursing care, physiotherapy, or medical transport, Mr. Rousseau replied that he did not want to open these sites there.
The government is looking for ways to save money, to be able to meet European commitments on public spending, and finance the needs of hospitals and community medicine.
No new increases on tobacco
Aurlien Rousseau also indicated that there would be no new increases on tobacco, while inflation was weighing on the purchasing power of the French. But next year, I will come back with this proposal, he said.
Regarding drug shortages, and possible price increases to encourage laboratories to produce more, Aurlien Rousseau responded: the subject is limited in a certain way to amoxycillin (the most common antibiotic) and paractamol. On amoxycillin, in return for a delivery commitment, we proposed a 10% increase to the main laboratories that produce it, he said. Most laboratories answered OK on this.
There will be other increases, but not on many other drugs, said the minister, who for example ruled out an increase of the same amount on paractamol. We are focusing on our major subject, antibiotics, declared Aurlien Rousseau, recalling that France is still one of the countries where the most antibiotics are consumed in Europe, by a long way.
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