health
Healthcare: Six recent and upcoming changes in France you may have missed in October
Includes ALD drug refunds and reduced sick leave allowance
We review changes (and news items) which have been made, together with some announced but not yet in place, and list certain key ones that may affect residents of France.
ALD drugs: changes to refunds
Patients with a long-term illness (ALD) status will no longer receive full reimbursement for some everyday medicines such as Gaviscon, Spasfon and Valium.
The change applies to around 171 medicines. As of October 1, they will only be reimbursed at the ordinary 15% rate for everyone.
Patients wanting to check whether a specific medicine is affected can search it directly on France's official medicines database.
Reimbursement forms digitised
These are usually posted to the patient’s local Cpam, but since September they can be sent digitally via the Compte ameli app.
Users log in, then go to the 'Mes démarches' section. They must upload a photo of the form – correctly filled in and signed – as well as key information including patient name, doctor number and appointment cost.
Only reimbursement applications of €100 or less for a single appointment are accepted digitally, and users can only make five separate requests across a 30-day period.
Physios join prevention scheme
Physiotherapists are now included in the ‘Mon bilan prévention’ scheme, targeting people in the 18–25, 45–50, 60–65, and 70–75 age groups. These check-up appointments are fully reimbursed by Assurance Maladie.
In addition, the ‘Mon soutien psy’ scheme has adopted the tiers payant system, meaning appointments scheduled under the programme no longer require patients to pay upfront for the portion being reimbursed by Assurance Maladie.
Reduced sick leave allowance
The maximum duration for the payment of daily allowances for certain conditions requiring long-term sick leave has been reduced from three years to one year.
The new limitation applies to sick leave for a health issue classified as a long-term illness (ALD) but one that does not receive 100% coverage through Assurance Maladie (ALD non exonérante).
Employees will have to return to work for at least one year to benefit from another year of maximum leave.
Hospital parking fees
A hospital in Nouvelle-Aquitaine is the latest to introduce paid parking. The Centre Hospitalier de Brive in Corrèze said that of its 646 parking spaces, 109 are now paid. The first two hours remain free, after which drivers pay €0.40 for every 20 minutes.
The new system is intended to prevent what is known as voitures ventouses – vehicles that remain parked for long periods – and make it easier for patients and visitors to find spaces.
Prices and free periods currently vary between hospitals. However, this could change if a bill approved by MPs in January 2026 is passed by the Senate. It would make parking free for patients and provide visitors with two hours free, followed by charges capped at €15 per day. It would apply to public hospitals only.
Reimbursement for menstrual products
Younger people and those on low-income complementary medical insurance can now receive reimbursement for certain reusable menstruation products.
They will receive coverage for a maximum of two products per year of either reusable menstruation underwear/period pants (les culottes menstruelles) or menstruation cups (les coupes menstruelles).
People aged 25 and below who are covered by Assurance Maladie, regardless of income, will be reimbursed 60% of a product’s cost. People of all ages subscribed to the Complémentaire santé solidaire will receive full reimbursement.
Only items purchased from a pharmacy are eligible for reimbursements.
