The French government has introduced new regulations effective January 1, 2027, aimed at adjusting the reimbursement rates for specific health services and medications covered by the national Social Security system. These changes shift more of the financial burden from the Social Security to complementary health insurance, known as "mutuals." For example, dental care will now be reimbursed at 50% by the Social Security, down from 60%, and certain medications, such as Spasfon (used for intestinal pain) and specific antihistamines, will see their reimbursement rate drop from 15% to just 5%. Other services, categorized as "moderate medical service rendered," will also face a reduction, from 30% to 15% reimbursement by the Social Security. During the summer of 2026, French mutuals estimated that 1.5 billion euros had been transferred from the Social Security to them as a way to help reduce the Social Security’s deficit, which is projected to exceed 23 billion euros this year. The president of the French National Federation of Health Insurance, Eric Chenut, explained that mutuals now face the challenge of covering this 1.5 billion euro transfer, which amounts to 1.7 billion euros when an additional 210 million euros in taxes are included. Mutuals are seeking relief by requesting a reduction in the additional solidarity tax (TSA), which was raised by 2.05% in 2026, pushing its rate to 15.27% for responsible contracts and 22.27% for non-responsible offers. Additional contributions, such as a 0.8% fee for long-term patient care, have further increased the tax burden, with some contracts now reaching over 16% or even 23% in total taxation. Eric Chenut criticized the government's approach, calling it a "complete change in logic" and expressing concern that the measures were enacted "without debate with Parliament," which he views as a major flaw. He argued that the current strategy—transferring expenses, increasing taxes, and raising deductibles—does not adequately address the challenges ahead. For example, patients will face higher out-of-pocket costs for medications like Spasfon, where the deductible (1 euro per pharmacy visit) will exceed the small reimbursement amount from the Social Security (only a few cents per box). Chenut called the situation "very absurd" and emphasized the need for "fundamental reforms" to better manage healthcare spending. Chenut proposed reforms such as working with healthcare professionals to improve prescribing practices based on scientific guidelines, increasing prevention efforts, and cracking down on fraud, which costs over 4 billion euros annually. He also suggested re-evaluating the use of contributions to fund the returns of certain foreign pension funds. The government’s path remains unclear, particularly after a recent setback regarding medical deductibles. The proposed increase in the deductible ceiling—originally planned to double from 100 to 200 euros—will instead rise by 140 euros per year, beginning October 1.