30 euros for the general practitioner, 60 euros for a specialist

HEALTH – Rest assured from the outset: the measure will probably have no direct impact on your wallet, more on that of Health Insurance. The price of certain medical consultations increases this Sunday, December 22, increasing to thirty euros with the general practitioner and 60 euros with the specialist if you are referred by a general practitioner. But this increase will have no consequences for the vast majority of patients, who will remain reimbursed as before.

These changes are linked to the new agreement signed in June by Health Insurance and the unions of private doctors, to define their relations over the period 2024-2029. He foresees “ significant revaluations » for practitioners, “ necessary » in view of inflation, with in return, actions to “ transform the health system “, in particular collective commitments on access to care and ” relevance and quality » care, underlines the National Health Insurance Fund (Cnam) in its communication.

A rising bill for 4% of French people

From Sunday, the reference consultation for general practitioners therefore increases from 26.50 to 30 euros. At the same time, “ the occasional consultant opinion », which pays for the expertise provided by a specialist at the request of a general practitioner, increases from 56.50 to 60 euros.

The objective is simple: to encourage the installation of doctors in town practices, by making the activity “ plus attractive », especially for general practitioners, who see a million patients per day.

But there is therefore no change for the wallet of the majority of French people: these prices are reimbursed by Health Insurance (70%) and complementary insurance (30%), after deduction of the two euros of ” flat-rate participation » always owed by the patient (within the limit of 50 euros per year/patient).

Clearly, it is only for the 4% of French people who do not benefit from complementary health insurance that the remaining cost will increase.

Gynecologists, pediatricians and psychiatrists also concerned

Other consultations will increase in two stages, partially on Sunday, then on July 1, for certain specialties whose income is lower and to respond to ” public health issues “. Faced with the deterioration in the mental health of young people in particular, the child psychiatry consultation will be paid 67 euros on Sunday then 75 euros from July 1, compared to 54.70 today. It will be usable until the patient is 25 years old.

In pediatrics, the three compulsory consultations of the child which require a “ certificate » from the doctor will increase to 54 euros on Sunday, then 60 euros on July 1 (currently 47.50). Other mandatory examinations (100% covered by Health Insurance) and routine follow-up consultations are also increased.

This summer's agreement creates a new pediatric expertise consultation up to 16 years old, at 60 euros, upon referral (from a doctor, midwife, speech therapist, etc.) to strengthen in particular the early detection of developmental and chronic pathologies. The classic consultation with psychiatrists increases to 55 euros on Sunday then 57 euros in the long term (51.70 today).

Increases are planned for other specialists including medical gynecologists (40 euros in the long term compared to 33.50 today), geriatricians (42 euros compared to 31.50), neurologists (57 euros compared to 51.70), for screening melanomas by dermatologists (60 euros compared to 47.50), or for various technical procedures.

Promoting the work of doctors and the fight against medical deserts

From 2026, general practitioners will receive a “ treating doctor package » (additional remuneration in addition to the consultations carried out) simplified and calibrated on the composition of their patient base to promote in particular the care of elderly, precarious or chronically ill patients. The annual follow-up of a patient over 80 years old with a long-term illness will, for example, be valued at 100 euros.

In addition, the agreement simplifies and completes the financial aid granted to doctors who settle in a medical desert, carry out consultations ” punctual » in under-resourced areas or hire medical assistants to be able to take more patients.

The agreement represents 950 million euros in additional spending in 2025 for Health Insurance (excluding new measures taken by the executive) and 1.6 billion over time.

In return, doctors are committing collectively and starting today to “ ten numerical objectives » (reduce the rate of patients with long-term illnesses without a treating doctor to 2%, increase their patient base by 2% per year, etc.) and fifteen action programs to “ relevance and quality » care (reduction in prescriptions for sick leave, certain medications, medical transport, etc.). The results will be monitored by an observatory and published online every quarter, starting in the first quarter of 2025.

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