Hospital fees in France will increase by 15 to 17% starting March 1, 2026, a sharp rise that will directly affect patients despite government assurances minimizing the impact. This measure, justified by the need to compensate for inflation and chronic hospital deficits, risks significantly increasing out-of-pocket expenses for households, especially in the private sector.
Context of the Fee Increase
The government has enacted this increase in hospital fees (DRG-based funding) to address the runaway inflation of energy, salary, and pharmaceutical costs that is eroding hospital budgets. Officially, this 15% to 17% increase – 7% of which will already be implemented by the end of 2025 – aims to inject an additional €3 billion into the healthcare system, without, however, covering all the estimated needs of €5 billion.
Public and private hospitals under contract will be impacted, with daily rates rising from €20 to approximately €23-24 per day of hospitalization, and surgical procedures and intensive care stays seeing their prices increase proportionally.
Real impact on patients
Contrary to the reassuring statements from the Ministry of Health claiming a “painless” effect thanks to Social Security coverage (approximately 80% of costs), this increase will weigh heavily on patient co-payments and supplemental payments from private health insurance. For a standard 5-day stay, the out-of-pocket expenses could jump by an additional €100 to €150 per patient, increasing the bills for the 10 million French people hospitalized annually.
Low-income households, already struggling due to inflation, and seniors with long-term illnesses will be the hardest hit, despite partial exemptions. Health insurance companies, facing price pressure, are already announcing premium increases of 5 to 10% in 2027 to absorb these additional costs.
Why it’s not “painless”
The government is underestimating several aggravating factors: first, the private sector (where 40% of procedures take place) will pass on these increases in full without strict regulation, leading to a surge in out-of-pocket expenses. Second, public waiting lists are likely to lengthen, pushing more patients toward private clinics.
Finally, this measure comes in the context of a hospital recruitment crisis and bed closures (5,000 by 2025), where the money injected will primarily go toward salaries rather than infrastructure improvements. Unions and patient associations denounce a “disguised austerity” that penalizes users without resolving structural imbalances.
This increase comes within the context of a 2026 social security budget deficit of €11.5 billion, with expected savings on medications and sick leave. It exacerbates inequalities in access to care: the wealthiest 10% will easily absorb the increase through better coverage, while the middle class will see its purchasing power eroded.
Insurance companies warn of a surge in patients forgoing care, already at 20% for expensive procedures, risking further overcrowding in emergency rooms.
Prospects and alternatives
To mitigate the impact, some are calling for a cap on private sector increases, a renegotiation of insurance agreements, and a massive nursing recruitment plan financed by taxes on Big Pharma. Without this, March 1st will mark a painful turning point for accessible healthcare, confirming the breakdown of the French model in the face of persistent inflation.
