Doctors will be better paid. In return, Health Insurance asks them to prescribe fewer medications, examinations and sick leave.
As decided by Health Insurance and private doctors, an increase in the prices of consultations will occur from December 2024, then a second in the summer of 2025. The price of a consultation with a general practitioner will increase by same as most specialists for a minimum period of 5 years. These increases aim to improve the French health system for the benefit of everyone, patients and doctors alike, and to support certain medical specialties that are losing appeal. Doctors will be better paid. In return, Health Insurance asks them to prescribe fewer medications, examinations and sick leave.
The change will take place on December 22, 2024. From this date, a consultation with the general practitioner will cost 30 euros compared to 26.50 euros currently and 35 euros compared to 31.50 euros for children under 6 years old. Nothing changes for teleconsultation with a general practitioner which will be maintained at 25 euros, we can read in the Public Service press release.
Prices are also increasing among specialists. A visit to a gynecologist (currently set at 33.50 euros) will increase to 37 euros in December to reach 40 euros in July 2025 (+13 euros). That for the psychiatrist, the neuropsychiatrist and the neurologist (set at 51.70 euros to date) will increase to 55 euros in December to reach 57 euros in July. A child psychiatry consultation will cost 75 euros instead of around sixty euros currently (+15 euros). The melanoma screening consultation with the dermatologist (set at 47.50 euros) will increase to 54 euros in December, then to 60 euros in July. For a child under 2 years old, the consultation with a pediatrician (set at 38.50 euros) will increase to 39 euros in December to reach 40 euros in July and for a child aged 2 to 5 years, the price (set at 33.50 euros ) will increase to 35 euros in December.
For seniors, the coordinated consultation with the geriatrician, set at 31.50 euros, will increase to 37 euros in December to reach 42 euros in July. Another new feature: patients over 80 will be able to benefit from 1is January 2026 of a “long consultation” from their attending physician which will be billed at 60 euros and reimbursed by Social Security. It may take place (maximum once a year) either upon discharge from hospitalization, or to reduce the number of medications prescribed, or upon request for the personalized autonomy allowance (APA), financial assistance granted to dependent people.
The coverage rates by Health Insurance and supplementary health insurance will remain unchanged: Health Insurance will still cover 70% of the amount of the consultation and mutual insurance companies will continue to reimburse 30%. For example, for a consultation with the general practitioner for 30 euros, 19 euros will be covered by Health Insurance (after deduction of the fixed contribution of 2 euros for adults) and 9 euros by the mutual insurance company. On the other hand, most mutual insurance companies will increase their prices in 2025 to compensate for the increase in reimbursements
