French citizens are preparing for significant price increases in health and transportation starting December 2023. Medical consultation fees will rise, with general practitioner visits increasing to 30 euros. Toll prices and vehicle registration fees will also see hikes, alongside a 4-6% rise in car insurance premiums. Home insurance will increase by 10-12% due to higher natural disaster claims. Additionally, postal services and public transportation fares will rise in early 2025, affecting everyday expenses for the population.
Upcoming Price Increases for Health and Transportation
The French population is bracing for a wave of price hikes in the upcoming year, with inflation having significantly slowed recently. As of November, inflation stood at 1.3% over the past twelve months, according to Insee. However, just in time for the holiday season, several price adjustments have been announced that will take effect shortly.
Starting December 22, medical consultation fees will see a notable increase. The cost for a visit to a general practitioner will jump from 26.50 euros to 30 euros. For children under 6, the fee will rise to 35 euros from the previous 31.50 euros. Specialist consultations will also be affected; for instance, the rate for a child under 2 will increase from 38.50 euros to 39 euros in December, eventually reaching 40 euros by July 2025. Additionally, consultations with a medical gynecologist will rise from 33.50 euros to 37 euros, and consultations with geriatricians will climb from 31.50 euros to 37 euros, with further increases anticipated in 2025.
Transportation and Insurance Costs on the Rise
Motorists will also feel the pinch, as toll prices are set to rise by an average of 0.9% in 2025. This increase is reportedly the smallest since 2021, remaining below the inflation rate of 1.1% for the same period. Registration fees for vehicles will also see significant hikes in various regions, climbing from 46 to 60 euros in Normandy and from 51.20 to 59 euros in Provence Alpes Côte d’Azur, among others. Furthermore, car insurance premiums are projected to increase by an average of 4 to 6%.
Complementary health insurance premiums are anticipated to surge as well, with an estimated increase of 6 to 8% starting January 1. This rise is attributed to the higher consultation rates agreed upon between Health Insurance and private practitioners. As the reimbursement rates for these consultations remain unchanged, out-of-pocket expenses for patients are expected to rise significantly.
Home insurance premiums are also on the rise, driven by an increase in the natural disaster premium from 12% to 20%, which will affect the overall cost of home insurance by an estimated 10 to 12%. This surge is linked to a higher frequency of claims due to environmental events like flooding and water damage.
Even postal services are experiencing price hikes, with the cost of sending letters and packages set to increase on January 1, 2025. For instance, a green letter will rise from 1.29 to 1.39 euros, while sending a registered letter will increase from 5.36 to 5.74 euros. Colissimo package rates will also see an average increase of 5.2%.
Lastly, public transportation fees in Île-de-France will now cost 88.80 euros for the Navigo pass, reflecting a 2.40 euro increase. New ticket pricing for metro, trains, and RER will be streamlined, with fares set at 2.50 euros for these services and 2 euros for bus and tram rides starting in January.