The government will not issue a decision within the framework of the Health Insurance budget if lawmakers limit the deficit to less than 20 billion euros for 2026, Health Minister Stéphanie Rist said on Monday.
“We must have a debate that will lead us to a Social Security deficit of less than 20 billion next year,” he announced on RTL.
“If the measures and compromises made by lawmakers are less than 20 billion, there is no reason to pass this decision,” he continued, when asked specifically about the government’s intention to increase certain medical deductibles, namely the remainder that patients must pay.
The Social Security budget bill will be examined by the Senate starting Wednesday, after completing its first reading in the Assembly. It will return to deputies in December for its final adoption.
The deficit is around 24 billion euros
Under current conditions, the project will widen the deficit to around 24 billion euros next year, while the current deficit stands at 23 billion euros, according to estimates given last week by Labor Minister Jean-Pierre Farandou.
Stéphanie Rist on Friday had named an acceptable threshold of 20 billion euros for 2026, a compromise while the government had initially targeted a figure of 17 billion euros.
“The limit that cannot be crossed for me is 20 billion,” he said again, Monday. “We must return to a path that allows the continuation of our social protection. »
One of the most controversial measures promoted by the government was doubling the amount of the medical deductible, in addition to expanding it to new benefits. The deputies were against it.
“Those who can afford it can afford more cuts,” stressed Stéphanie Rist on Monday, noting that parliamentary discussions were only at the “beginning”.
