Complementary health insurance holders will face a hike in mutuelle rates of an average of 6% in 2025, according to the Mutualité Française. It will be the third consecutive year of increases for the vast majority of policies, following an average rise of 4.7% in 2023 and a steep 8.1% climb in costs in 2024.
It will be the third consecutive year of increases for the vast majority of policies, following an average rise of 4.7% in 2023 and a steep 8.1% climb in costs in 2024.
Since 1st January, the average price of a mutuelle insurance policy, or complementary health insurance, rose by 5.3% for individuals and 7.3% for employee group plans, according to Mutualité Française, the French organisation that represents more than 400 mutuelle programmes providing health, life, and supplementary insurance coverage to around 35 million people, or roughly half of France’s population.
These increases come on the heels of a 4.7% hike in 2023 and a significantly higher 8.1% rise in 2024.
Mutualité Française has attributed the latest rise to escalating healthcare costs and systemic changes within the French healthcare system.
Among the reasons cited is that health expenses covered by mutual insurers grew by more than 6% in 2023 alone, driven by an ageing population increasingly affected by chronic illnesses. As life expectancy rises, so does the demand for medical care, placing greater financial strain on insurers.
The rising costs have also been linked to the growing expense of innovative medical treatments and cutting-edge drugs which, while improving patient outcomes, come with a hefty price tag.
At the same time, the role of Social Security in covering healthcare costs has diminished. In areas like dental care, France’s social security system has already reduced its reimbursements, shifting the financial responsibility to complementary health insurers. This trend has raised concerns among patient advocacy groups, which warn of a gradual “privatisation of health” as private insurers increasingly bear the brunt of healthcare costs, leaving citizens more reliant on supplementary health coverage.
Adding to the burden, the cost of medical consultations increased at the end of 2024. General practitioner fees rose from €26.50 to €30, while specialist consultations jumped from €56.50 to €60. Doctors’ unions justified these increases as necessary to offset inflation, but the additional costs are now being passed down to insurers and their policyholders.
For many French citizens, these rate hikes are a blow to purchasing power at a time when inflation and other rising costs are already stretching household budgets. Supplementary health insurance is not a luxury but a necessity for millions, as it covers essential medical expenses not reimbursed by Social Security.
The steady escalation of mutual insurance rates is sparking wider debates about the future of healthcare financing in France. As insurers grapple with rising costs and citizens shoulder growing premiums, calls for reform are intensifying.
Recent reforms in France have focused on four main areas: improving financial access to preventive care, enhancing access to care in underserved areas, strengthening prevention measures, and reforming payment methods for providers, particularly in the hospital sector. In addition, the government is looking at ways to improve working conditions and pay for healthcare workers.
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