Hospital stays could cost more

PATIENTS staying in hospital may have to pay an extra €4 a day next year

Putting up the forfait hospitalier is one of the ideas being considered by the government to help reduce a social security deficit of €30 billion.

The forfait, currently €16, is a part of the daily costs of staying in hospital that is not covered by state social security and it is chargeable from the first night. Some private top-up insurance policies cover it and others do not.

Putting it up by 25%, to €20, is being considered as part of the 2010 Social Security Financing Law, which will be presented in parliament next month. It is estimated this could bring in an extra €400 million to the coffers of the Cpam medical social security bodies.

Health Minister Roselyne Bachelot has said it is reasonable to catch up by increasing the forfait, which has been the same since January 2007.

Another option being looked at is to reduce the reimbursement of “optional prescription medicines” from 35% to 15%. These are ones that you can buy off the shelf, but which are cheaper if they are prescribed, notably paracetamol and aspirin.