Health top-up price to rise despite France's proposed freeze

The cost of top-up health insurance (mutuelles) looks set to continue rising after insurers stood firm against a law that would have frozen prices for 2026.

They argued that Article 13 of the social security finance law, stating that the fees “may not be increased compared with the amount applicable in the year 2025”, was unconstitutional, infringing their right to do business, and breached rules in the Code des assurances and Code de la mutualité.

Almost all insurers have raised prices, mostly by 3-10%.

In April, consumer group Que Choisir Ensemble surveyed 4,000 members; 98% reported a rise in their premiums, averaging €106.21 per person. Retirees – who get no employer contribution – are among those hit hardest by the price hikes.

Socialist MP Jérôme Guedj, who pushed the law through, did not respond to The Connexion's request for comment on its status.

In April, the government said it would seek advice from the Conseil d'Etat, France’s highest administrative court, but there has been no update since. 

A court spokeswoman said in July: “It is like a client asking a lawyer for advice – not something the court can make public; only the government can.”

The health and finance ministries, the prime minister's office, the médiateur de l'assurance, and the sector’s main representative body, Mutualité Française, all ignored requests for updates.

Higher healthcare costs point to further rises in 2027

While most insurers only announce their prices from September, online broker Magnolia.fr is already warning of steep 2027 rises.

It blames government plans to cut mandatory health insurance payments to offset costs from the conflict in the Middle East, which has shifted more costs onto mutuelles.

The ticket modérateur (the part of a medical tariff that is not state-reimbursed) is also being revised to shift charges – particularly for patient transport and pharmacy medicines – from the state to mutuelles, a transfer insurance experts estimate at €1.2-1.5billion.

Magnolia.fr also suggested a €1billion "exceptional" 2026 tax on mutuelles could be repeated in 2027.

These come on top of inflationary pressures: an ageing population, rising health costs, expensive new technology, and demands for better pay from doctors and nurses.

Insurers, who already claim mutuelles are taxed more heavily than fast food and fizzy drinks, are unlikely to stay quiet.

France’s federation of social protection institutions, the Fédération des institutions paritaires de protection sociale warned of “disastrous consequences”, stating: "Once again, the government's measures rest on a transfer of costs, without any global reflection on how medical expenses can be mastered.”