France's annual cap on medical franchises will rise from 100 euros to 140 euros starting October 1, 2026, the first increase to the ceiling in 20 years, according to the French Health Ministry.
The change is intended to help contain rising healthcare spending. The Health Ministry said the higher cap is expected to bring in at least 300 million euros a year for the Social Security system, France's public health insurance scheme.
What the franchise covers
The medical franchise is a fixed sum deducted from health insurance reimbursements in France, applied to purchases such as medication, doctor consultations and other paramedical costs. Unlike a co-payment charged at the point of care, it is subtracted automatically from the amount the state health system pays back to patients. The annual cap limits how much a single patient can be charged through this mechanism over the course of a year, regardless of how many times they see a doctor or fill a prescription.
Exemptions and reaction
The Health Ministry said minors, pregnant women and beneficiaries of the Complementary Solidarity Health Insurance, a means-tested scheme that covers healthcare costs for low-income households, will remain exempt from the franchise altogether.
Patients with the most serious or chronic health conditions, who tend to see doctors and buy medication most often, described the higher cap as an injustice, since they are the ones most likely to reach it each year.
Background
The franchise system has existed in France for years as one of several tools used to share the cost of healthcare between the state and patients, alongside co-payments and deductibles. The ceiling had stood at 100 euros for two decades before this increase, meaning the change to 140 euros marks a significant shift in how much individual patients can be asked to contribute annually.
