First disagreements over the "Social Security" budget

Although it has been extensively rewritten, the draft is still far from gaining widespread support. On the third day of committee debates, members of parliament rejected, on Wednesday, October 29, the section of the 2026 Social Security Financing Bill (PLFSS) dedicated to revenue. This vote has no impact on the fate of the text or on the continuation of discussions, which are scheduled to conclude, in principle, on Friday evening. However, it provides an initial indication of which provisions are likely to be retained or rejected when the debate begins in the National Assembly on Tuesday, based on the initial version presented by the government, in accordance with procedure.

As expected, the debates were particularly heated regarding Article 7, which levies a tax on supplementary health insurance providers (mutuals, provident institutions, insurers, etc.) for the year 2026 only. Numerous political forces, ranging from the National Rally to the entire left wing, including The Republicans (LR), opposed it, arguing that it is, in reality, a tax imposed on the sick. In this measure, "there is a great deal of hypocrisy, tinged with a bit of cowardice," stated Yannick Monnet, a Communist elected official from the Allier department. "Taxing mutuals is taxing patients," he protested, emphasizing that they would inevitably pass on the state-imposed levy to patients through an increase in their rates. Unsurprisingly, the offending article, which was expected to bring in a little over 1 billion euros, was removed.

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