Insurers stand by 'illegal' French health fee rises
Health insurers defend top-up fee rises despite law freezing them
Many premiums increased by between 3% and 10% in January despite a law intended to prevent this
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Millions of people whose top-up health insurance premiums rose this year – despite a law freezing them – face a frustrating wait as insurers continue to insist they are in the right.
Many increased between 3% and 10% in January, despite Article 13 of the 2026 social security finance law stating they “may not be increased compared with the amount applicable in the year 2025”.
The sector’s main body, Mutualité Française, says the rises are needed to take account of €2billion of additional costs passed on in the 2026 budget to mutuelles, the supplementary health insurance providers that exist in France to help pay for medical costs not covered by the public system.
The extra costs include a new ‘VAT on healthcare’ and lower reimbursement rates from the social security system.
Mutualité Française claims Article 13 is “unconstitutional and impossible to apply” and says it is considering avenues for a legal challenge.
As yet, it says it is impossible to say if there will be any change for clients, such as refunds and/or a return to 2025 levels.
Readers express their concerns
Several readers have written to The Connexion to voice their frustration at the increases, and consumer associations UFC-Que Choisir and CLCV have also spoken out.
UFC-Que Choisir published a template letter people can use if they want to contest the rise. CLCV invites people to contact a local branch if they need help.
However, at there have been no reports of specific legal action by consumer bodies, pending discussions that have started between the government and insurers. These talks were originally supposed to conclude at the end of March.
A spokeswoman for Mutualité Française said: “It’s still on standby. There were some exchanges but the public accounts minister, Amélie de Montchalin, left her post and as she had promised to move forward on the subject, it is still on hold.”
Consumer groups are advising people to send a letter to their mutuelle demanding it applies the rule from Article 13 and/or it refunds any excess charged. If it refuses, UFC-Que Choisir suggests writing again, with additional arguments (it has published a FAQ to help).
Otherwise, the main recourse is to contact a mediator, whose details should be available in your contract.
A senator from Eure, Hervé Maurey, has asked the government what measures it intends to take to ensure the provisions of the 2026 finance law will be applied, but he has so far not received a reply.
One reader, with top-up AXA, wrote asking for the premium to be reduced to the 2025 rate. He said he “was sent a standardised letter about reading the terms and conditions, which was not useful or informative.”
Another reader, with the same provider, cited a 6.4% rise. AXA told the reader it was waiting for the conclusion of government discussions before making a decision.
AXA said: “As an insurance company, we have to adjust our tariffs annually so as to account for the overall increase in health expenses in France and to continue to offer you appropriate protection.” It also said the increase was decided before the law was passed.
Another reader was told, in this case by MAAF, that since it had announced the premium rise in October 2025 the law was not applicable. This argument is refuted by UFC-Que Choisir, which calls for a “strict application of the law as voted”. It says the argument is contrary to the spirit of the law and that “pricing schedules, concerning amounts that could only be asked for from January 1, 2026, should be revised in light of the freeze”.
A fourth reader, whose top-up from Crédit Agricole has risen by 7%, was also told that the company was awaiting clarifications from the talks.
