A reduce in state-funded spa therapies is on the playing cards for France’s new authorities, with a decree reportedly ready for the incoming well being minister.
A decree is reportedly ready for France’s new Health Minister to signal that may finish one hundred pc reimbursements for cures thermales (spa therapies) for sufferers who’ve a long-term sickness, referred to as an affection longue durée.
The reduce can be the newest in a collection of measures to restrict state funding of spa therapies – the cures was once extensively prescribed by docs however in recent times the principles have been tightened up in order that now solely sufferers affected by sure circumstances can profit.
For most sufferers, solely 65 p.c of the price of their remedy is roofed by the French public well being system, however sufferers who’re registered as having a continual medical situation (ALD) can nonetheless profit from a one hundred pc reimbursement.
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The proposed change cuts the speed all the way down to 65 p.c for everybody – affecting round 14 million sufferers and saving an estimated €25 million a 12 months, in response to a report by the General Inspectorate of Social Affairs (IGAS) and the General Inspectorate of Finance (IGF).
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If the decree is signed by whoever prime minister Sébastien Lecornu appoints as his well being minister, it’s going to come into impact on February 1st, 2026.
From that date, sufferers with long-term sicknesses who’re prescribed a spa remedy, which should final 18 days, should pay one-third of the price of the remedy, along with the lodging and meal prices they’re already answerable for.
This would symbolize a further €200 or so out of their very own pockets. Only these in receipt of staff’ compensation or occupational sickness advantages would proceed to obtain one hundred pc protection.
The choice comes because the French medical health insurance system is in search of to make €5.5 billion in financial savings by 2026.
READ ALSO Explained: Why do the French love thermal spa cures a lot?
The reduce in authorities funds will come as a critical blow to the handfuls of thermal spa institutions throughout the nation, that are struggling to return to pre-Covid customer numbers. Figures from the National Council of Thermal Establishments (CNETh) reveal there have been 470,000 spa guests final 12 months, in comparison with 580,000 in 2019.
Thermalism, which accounts for 0.1 p.c of the medical health insurance finances, has been within the eye of the storm for a number of years. In 2022, Charente MP Thomas Mesnier tabled an modification to make reimbursement for thermal cures conditional on “an evaluation of their medical advantages by the Haute Autorité de Santé (HAS)”.
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In April, the Court of Auditors thought of that “the framework for the reimbursement of thermal cures may very well be reviewed by permitting the HAS to provide an opinion on the inclusion or removing of thermal therapies and companies from the listing of procedures and companies eligible for reimbursement.”
But proponents of the therapies argue that the HAS is failing to take account of a wealth of literature supporting their case that has been submitted over time, together with dozens of scientific trials within the fields of rheumatology, dermatology, psychological issues, and extra.
The National Observatory of the Spa Resort Economy, thermal spas have created some 25,000 jobs and generate €4.5 billion in financial advantages.
