Starting January 1, 2026, the fees of many self-employed specialist physicians in France will increase by a few euros. This fee increase is part of the implementation of the agreement signed in 2024 between medical unions and the national health insurance system, following an initial postponement due to the deterioration of the social security system's finances. Pediatricians, psychiatrists, neurologists, dermatologists, and gynecologists are among the practitioners affected.
For pediatricians, mandatory checkups for children under two will be increased to €50, while psychiatrists will see the surcharge for treating young patients raised to €18. Consultations in neurology, dermatology, and endocrinology will also benefit from limited increases, as will certain technical, surgical, and obstetric procedures.
New devices for general practitioners
The reform is not limited to specialists. It also introduces a longer consultation, billed at €60 once a year, for patients over 80 in specific situations, such as hospital discharge or a reassessment of multiple treatments. At the same time, the former flat fees paid to general practitioners are being replaced by a single annual payment per patient, adjusted according to age, health status, and social circumstances.
According to the national health insurance system, these measures aim to enhance the value of private practice, improve access to care, and strengthen prevention, at an estimated cost of several hundred million euros. However, they are coming into effect in a tense climate, marked by the call for a strike by private practice doctors in early January, a sign that these adjustments, while significant, are not enough to allay the profession's concerns.
