The French government is currently considering changes to the coverage of long-term conditions classified as “exonérantes” in order to cut costs and improve public finances. This would likely shift some financial burden onto private health insurers and households. The government is facing pressure to find 30 billion euros by 2025 to balance the budget, with a significant portion expected to come from the national healthcare system, which covers 66% of reimbursed expenses. Options being considered include reducing the number of eligible conditions for coverage under the long-term conditions scheme, tightening eligibility criteria, or increasing patient co-pays for certain medical procedures.
Regardless of the chosen actions, households are expected to bear a significant portion of these cost-cutting measures. Asking private health insurers to absorb these increased costs is also problematic, as their financial margins have been slim in recent years. If insurers were forced to pass on these additional costs to policyholders, premiums could increase by as much as 20% to 40%. This would likely be unpopular with the public and could lead to political backlash. Ultimately, the government may have to make some tough decisions in order to improve the financial health of the national healthcare system by 2025.
It is clear that changes to the coverage of long-term conditions will have a significant impact on the population, especially on retirees who make up a majority of those covered by the scheme. Any decision to reduce coverage or increase patient contributions is likely to be met with resistance and could lead to increased out-of-pocket expenses for individuals. The government is facing a challenging balancing act as it tries to find ways to reduce healthcare spending without overly burdening households or private insurers.
The government’s goal of reducing the financial burden of long-term conditions on the national healthcare system is a complex issue with no easy solutions. While cutting costs is necessary to improve the country’s fiscal situation, any changes to the coverage of long-term conditions will have real and immediate effects on patients and healthcare providers. As the government navigates this difficult terrain, it will need to carefully consider the impact of its decisions on various stakeholders and be prepared to address any potential backlash from the public. The choices made in the coming months will likely have far-reaching implications for the future of the country’s healthcare system and the financial well-being of its citizens.
