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France is often ranked among the world’s best healthcare systems, combining private medical practice with public reimbursement. From 1 January 2026, important changes to medical tariffs will affect how much doctors are paid, and how patients experience care.
These changes come from the 2024–2026 National Medical Convention, with final price adjustments entering into force in 2026. While many of these reforms primarily impact healthcare professionals, expats living in France should understand what’s changing, what it means for consultation costs, and how reimbursements may evolve.
Key Consultation Fee Changes from January 2026
Specialist Consultations: Higher Base Fees
Several specialist consultations will increase under the official Sector 1 tariff (the price used for public reimbursement):
➡️ Gynaecologists: 35 €
➡️ Geriatricians: 37 €
➡️ Psychiatrists & neurologists: 52 €
➡️ Paediatricians (children under 2): 40 €
These increases matter because public reimbursement is calculated on these base tariffs, even when doctors charge more.
Children’s Healthcare: Stronger Focus, Higher Fees
France continues to prioritise early childhood and preventive care. From January 2026:
➡️ Mandatory paediatric exams (8 days, 9 months, 24 months): 60 €
➡️ Paediatric exams for children under 2: 50 €
➡️ New consultant paediatric visit (at request of schools, PMI, speech therapists, etc.): 60 €
👉 What this means for expats: Families with children will benefit from better-recognised paediatric care, often fully or largely reimbursed through the public system and complementary insurance.
Emergency Care in Private Clinics: Updated Fees
Emergency consultations in private emergency departments will also be revalued:
➡️ Medium severity emergency visit: 40 €
➡️ Higher severity emergency visit: 50 €
➡️ Additional fee for hospitalisation of patients over 75: 20 €
These changes help stabilise private emergency services, important in areas facing medical deserts or hospital congestion.
Planning to Retire in France? What “Long Consultations” Mean for Your Healthcare
If you’re considering retiring in France, one of the most reassuring healthcare changes coming in 2026 is the introduction of “Long Consultations” (60 €) for patients aged 80 and over, carried out by their declared GP (médecin traitant).
These extended medical appointments are designed to give older patients more time, continuity, and personalised follow-up, something many retirees worry about when moving abroad.
Specifically, these long consultations will cover:
➡️ Post-hospital discharge reviews, helping prevent complications after a stay in hospital
➡️ Medication reviews for patients taking more than 10 treatments, a common concern for older adults
➡️ Administrative and care coordination support, including help with APA (loss-of-autonomy allowances), disability files, and medico-social pathways
For retirees and expats aging in France, this reform is a major step forward. It recognises that healthcare in later life is not just about prescriptions, but about coordination, prevention, and clear communication.
For future retirees in France, this means better medical follow-up, fewer rushed appointments, and stronger long-term care planning, provided you are registered in the French system and have a declared médecin traitant.
Telemedicine & Expert Opinions
➡️ Tele-expertise payment increases from 20 € to 23 €
➡️ Emergency referral delays are extended from 2 to 4 days, making them easier for doctors to use
This reinforces remote healthcare and coordination, which is particularly helpful for expats in rural France.
Home Visits & Rural Access
Several revaluations aim to encourage doctors to continue home visits and rural work:
➡️ Mountain travel supplement: 15 €
➡️ Improved mileage allowances
➡️ Faster home visits arranged by emergency services receive additional payments
While these are doctor-side incentives, they help preserve access in less-served areas, important for expats outside major cities.
The Bigger Picture: What Expats Should Understand
✅ France Still Offers a Unique Healthcare Model
In France you can consult private doctors or specialists while still benefiting from public reimbursement via Assurance Maladie. Private-practice care is reimbursed based on a regulated tariff, and many people top up with private complementary insurance (mutuelle) to reduce out-of-pocket costs.
✅ Why Mutuelle Insurance Still Matters
➡️ A mutuelle helps cover the portion of medical bills that the public system does not reimburse, for example, the remainder of doctor fees, dentist visits, optical care, specialist surcharges, or hospital extras.
➡️ If you opt into the 100% Santé scheme (where offered), and choose a provider that participates, your mutuelle can enable full coverage (no-cost options) for certain optical, dental, and hearing services.
➡️ For expats, seniors, families, or anyone needing regular care, mutuelle provides vital financial protection against “extra” costs that the public system does not fully absorb.
⚠️ Important Realities to Bear in Mind
Public reimbursement covers only a part of medical costs (around 70% for a GP visit under “parcours de soins”).
If your doctor charges more than the regulated fee (common under “secteur 2” or private practice), you pay the difference, and the mutuelle may or may not cover it fully.
Mutuelle plans vary wildly, choosing the right level of cover, reading the fine print (exclusions, co-payments, ceilings) is essential.
Until you obtain your health insurance registration/Carte Vitale, you may need to pay up-front and reclaim costs, this can lead to temporary out-of-pocket expenses.
Key Takeaways for Expats
✔ Medical consultation tariffs increase modestly in 2026
✔ Children’s and elderly care receive stronger recognition
✔ Some procedures (notably radiology) remain controversial
✔ Public reimbursement continues to apply
✔ A mutuelle remains essential for financial security
To Wrap it All Up
The 2026 healthcare tariff changes don’t radically transform the French system, but they do confirm an ongoing trend: more complex pricing, tighter budgets, and increasing reliance on complementary insurance. For expats living in France, the fundamentals remain excellent, but good advice and the right insurance choices matter more than ever.
Source: French Medical Federation (FMF) – Les nouveautés conventionnelles tarifaires du 1er janvier 2026
