2023-12-15 19:09:17
Published on Dec 15 2023 at 7:01 p.m.Updated Dec 15 2023 at 8:09 p.m.
Like a sense of deja vu. The government is maintaining pressure on health insurers to limit price increases next year. Showing himself unconvinced by the justifications of the complementary organizations, he asked them for more “transparency” and suggested that the French bring in competition.
“No serious explanation was given to me for […] explain [certaines hausses de tarifs] », criticizes the Minister of Health, Aurélien Rousseau in a statement published this Friday on provident institutions).
Unexpected rise in health spending
Not all insurers have revealed the price of their health coverage for next year. However, the Facts & Figures and Addactis firms forecast a strong increase, of 8% on average after an increase of around 5% in 2023. In the market for corporate (collective) health contracts, AXA will, for example, apply revaluations averages of 11.4%.
Enough to worry the executive at a time when inflation, even if it is falling, continues to weigh on the purchasing power of the French. This Friday, Aurélien Rousseau denounced “unacceptable” increases that could “go up to 12%”.
“The dynamic of health spending is much stronger than what had been projected,” argues Eric Chenut, the boss of the French Mutualité, referring to an increase in reimbursements of around 6% in health, compared to a little less than 3.5% expected.
The French have already been able to “catch up” on the care they were unable to benefit from with the Covid pandemic, but there is “a health need different from what we knew before the crisis”, believes the mutual manager. The government has also asked insurers to cover a greater share of dental care costs.
The management fees in question
Nevertheless, for Aurélien Rousseau, “if we can explain a 5 to 7% increase” in prices, “it would be far too easy to place the responsibility” for the soaring bill on Social Security. And the minister calls on insurers for “transparency”.
Reflecting a certain annoyance towards the federations which are reluctant to talk about their members’ prices, the ministry explains that “the ball is in their court”. He asks insurers to work on the different factors of price increases. Particularly on their management fees.
Last month, the insurance watchdog, the Prudential Control and Resolution Authority, called on insurers to absorb part of the increase in health and damage insurance rates, by working on their basis of costs. A position deemed “political” by certain insurers, outraged by these declarations.
Stressing that health spending is increasing rapidly and structurally, the Mutualité says it is ready to work with Social Security on the best way to achieve “efficiency gains”. “There is redundant care, care that is not done at the right time,” slips Eric Chenut.
Move on to the competition
Pressure from the authorities on the profession is regular. Particularly as price changes approach. The executive did not hesitate to exceptionally tax complementary funds during the Covid crisis.
But this call to order seems to come very late to change the trend. Especially since it does not single out increases of less than 8%. The executive does not mention retaliatory measures against those who would raise their prices.
He simply invites French people who wish to change health insurer, knowing that for individual contracts, it is possible at any time since the end of 2020.
In this vein, the Minister of the Economy, Bruno Le Maire, this week invited the French to “enlist competition” to obtain more advantageous rates for their insurance contracts, in the broad sense.
1702687934
#Passing #arms #government #insurers #prices #complementary #health #insurance