It had long been expected that the healthcare sector would be asked to contribute to the budget cuts promised for 2026. For weeks, various scenarios had circulated among players ranging from Assurance-maladie (France's national health insurance) to MEDEF (Mouvement des entreprises de France, the country's largest employers' federation). The suspense ended on Tuesday, July 15, when the government set a target of €5 billion in healthcare cuts, out of the €43.8 billion in total savings to be found in the next budget, as announced by Prime Minister François Bayrou while unveiling his plans to restore public finances.

"Healthcare spending will increase by €10 billion next year. That is not sustainable. I suggest we strive to limit that increase by half," the head of government stated. The amount for this sector is significant, even if it is in line with the target already mentioned at the previous budget presentation.

The controversial methods to achieve these savings are certain to spark a reaction, as they directly affect patients. One such measure is the increase in "medical deductibles" – the out-of-pocket amounts patients pay when buying medicine. Bayrou announced that the annual cap for these deductibles and flat-rate co-payments (applicable to doctor's visits, radiology exams, lab tests, etc.) would double from €50 to €100 per insured person per year. This would mean "a maximum of €8 per month" for each person, he specified.

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