Mutual health insurance: who are the French people most affected by the increase in prices?

While the prices of mutual health insurance continue to increase, the insurance comparator Les Furets has taken an interest in health-related expenses over the last two years for the French.

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Mutual health insurance companies in France are subject to a general increase in their prices for 2025, having a strong impact on households. In 2024, prices had increased significantly, on average by 10% according to UFC-Que Choisir, and for 2025, complementary organizations are forecasting an increase of the same order.

The reason is, above all, the aging of the population which mechanically increases the demand for medical care, and in turn the premiums of mutual insurance companies. But also the measures taken by the government recently to enable Social Security to make savings. The Minister of Health announced that the reimbursement rate for medicines and medical consultations by Social Security could fall by 5% next year. Which implies a fall of costs on the insured to absorb the additional charges.

Seniors on the front line

In detail, the 2024 barometer from the insurance comparator Les Furets sheds light on the profiles of the French people most affected by these increases. Data from more than 700,000 quotes made in 2023 and 2024 reveal significant disparities depending on the age, region and professional situation of policyholders. People aged 66 and over are the hardest hit, with an average increase in the cost of their mutual health insurance of 9% between 2023 and 2024. Their contributions reach on average 2,206 euros per year, compared to 1,610 euros for those aged 36 -49 years old (+11%) and 1,132 euros for 26-35 year olds (+8%). This financial burden is explained by higher medical needs, reinforcing the demand on mutual insurance companies.

By socio-professional category, self-employed workers recorded an increase of 13% (1,311 euros annually), followed by employees (+12%, 1,401 euros) and the unemployed (+11%, 1,284 euros). Students remain the least exposed, with an average contribution of 648 euros (+11%).

Finally, regional disparities also highlight gaps: Hauts-de-France displays the highest rates, particularly for retirees (2,114 euros per year) and employees (1,481 euros), followed closely by Provence- Alpes-Côte d’Azur and Île-de-France.

Health guarantees: between precaution and rationalization

Faced with these increases, the French are seeking to optimize their coverage. Despite the “100% health” reform, dental and optical guarantees continue to attract particular attention. Adults aged 26 to 55 prefer maximum coverage for dental care, while 18-25 year olds opt more for minimum coverage. On the optical side, seniors (66 years and over) are moving towards minimum guarantees, probably to take full advantage of the measures supported by the State.

The hospitalization guarantee follows an age logic: young people (18-35 years old) stick to basic coverage, while those aged 56 and over favor high reimbursement levels, anticipating the increasing risks linked to their health .

​​The increase in contributions calls for increased vigilance. The French are invited to regularly review their contracts to ensure that they correspond to their real needs. It is naturally pointless to pay for optical coverage when you don’t have glasses – this may seem obvious, but according to Les Furets, unsuitable guarantees are far from being anecdotal.