Starting from October 1st, the maximum amount French citizens will have to pay out-of-pocket for medical co-payments will be capped at 140 euros per year, according to a decree published in the Official Journal on September 12. This change comes after the government decided to adjust the annual limits for medical co-payments and flat-rate contributions based on inflation, increasing the annual caps from 50 euros to 70 euros each. This means that individuals who need medications covered by the Social Security Agency, visit doctors or other healthcare professionals, or use services like sanitary transport or medical tests, will now face a maximum out-of-pocket cost of 140 euros per year. However, this amount can be higher if doctors charge additional fees that are not covered by the Social Security. The government has stated that this measure aims to support the creation of 5,000 new health centers by 2027, as well as to hire 3,700 junior doctors and allow other healthcare professionals to perform certain medical tasks, improving access to care. These plans could place additional financial pressure on the Social Security system, which manages healthcare funding in France. Another key change is the annual revaluation of the co-payment and flat-rate contribution caps, starting in 2028. This means the limits will be adjusted each year based on inflation, rather than remaining fixed since their introduction in 2005 and 2008. The revaluation is calculated using the average annual consumer prices, excluding tobacco, based on the latest 12 months of data. The resulting number is rounded to the nearest whole number, with any 0.5 fraction rounded up to 1. If the revaluation doesn’t result in an increase due to rounding, the next year’s calculation will include more recent price data to ensure the caps keep pace with inflation. Before finalizing the new cap, the government faced opposition to a proposal that would have doubled the current limits. A related decree was considered but ultimately not approved by Health Minister Sébastien Lecornu, who instead opted for an inflation-based adjustment. However, 18 million French citizens are exempt from these co-payments, including children under 18, pregnant women, individuals receiving a solidarity health supplement, and victims of terrorist attacks. These groups are protected from the increase due to specific exemptions in the healthcare system.