France health costs: retirees face higher bills in 2027

Retirees, the self-employed and others who pay for their own health top-up insurance are set to be among those hardest hit by rising health costs next year.

Four draft decrees sent to the Assurance maladie for consultation would reduce the state’s share of costs for dental care, some medicines, medical devices and medical transport from January 2027.

A fifth decree had been due to double the annual ceiling on certain charges deducted from patients’ reimbursements – known as franchises médicales – but Health Minister Stéphanie Rist said this had been dropped.

“[If passed] people will pay more out of pocket and some may start trying to manage their health on their own rather than consult a GP,” Féreuze Aziza, a health advocate for France Assos Santé, told The Connexion.

“The government has chosen short-term savings over people’s long-term health. It is idiotic.”

What healthcare reimbursements could change?

The share of dental care reimbursed is expected to fall from 60% to 50%. It already dropped from 70% to 60% in 2023.

For medical devices such as dressings and braces, the state share is expected to fall from 60% to 50%, and reimbursement for medical transport is expected to fall from 55% to 45%.

Some medicines will also have lower reimbursement rates.

The government says the 100% Santé dental package will remain fully covered, but other treatments will become more dependent on complementary insurance.

The Mutualité Française estimates the changes will transfer €1.5-1.7billion in costs to complementary insurers.

Mrs Rist has said higher mutuelle premiums are not automatic and that the government is negotiating with insurers to limit increases. However, she acknowledged that she could not impose a price freeze.

A legal freeze on premiums was passed for 2026 but insurance firms argued that it was unconstitutional and almost all raised prices this year, mostly by 3-10%. Ms Aziza said policyholders will feel the impact.

“Health top-ups will get more expensive in 2027,” she said, citing a UFC-Que Choisir estimate of a further 4-8% increase after a 4.7% rise in 2026.

“And the reduced reimbursement rates are just the tip of the iceberg since there are lots of hidden expenses on treatments that are not reimbursed by the state – and these are always becoming more expensive.”

Retirees and S1 holders among those affected

The changes are particularly relevant to retirees, self-employed people and foreign residents who may pay for their own mutuelle, rather than benefiting from an employer contribution.

Foreign retirees with an S1 form are also exposed.

The S1 gives them access to French state healthcare under reciprocal arrangements, but does not provide complementary insurance.

Those who take out a mutuelle themselves can therefore face higher premiums in 2027 if more costs move to insurers, while people without one (estimated to be around 4% of the eligible population) will have to meet the extra costs themselves.

“Older people already pay more so will be more at risk of rising costs,” said Ms Aziza.

“And these figures only cover reimbursed healthcare costs – there are many other costs that are not reimbursed at all.”

She said the government could have looked elsewhere for savings, including cutting down on over-prescribing and unnecessary tests.

Check your mutuelle cover

The government says the measures are intended to control healthcare spending and help fund hospitals, access to care and new medicines.

Ms Aziza urged people to review their mutuelle cover.

“It is vital that people check they are not paying too much,” she said.

It may also be worth checking whether your policy will absorb the additional costs when the 2027 changes take effect. Contracts can be cancelled penalty-free after one year.