鈥楳assive鈥� rise in French mutuelle costs attacked
Rises of up to 12% in the cost of mutuelle supplementary health insurance have been attacked by a consumer group.
It said the 鈥済alloping inflation鈥� of premiums meant there was an urgent need for clients to be able to cancel policies at any time.
Researchers from UFC Que Choisir analysed 500 different contracts from 86 companies and found 鈥渕assive鈥� rises.
The median rise 鈥� halfway from highest to lowest 鈥� for one company was 12%. Half the contracts showed rises of more than 5%, when average inflation is 1.1%.
Que Choisir also criticised the 鈥渉uge variation in charges鈥� between companies which 鈥渁ll work in the same market conditions鈥�.
Some, such as Macif, raised premiums by just 2.7%.
The 5% average rise for 2020 was more than the 4% in 2019. It coincides with the start of the new 100% Sant茅 policy that improves reimbursements for some optical and dental care, which the government said would have 鈥渘o effect鈥� on mutuelle premiums.
Mathieu Escot, of UFC Que Choisir, said: 鈥淧arliament voted a law last year to allow customers to cancel contracts at any point, but it has still not come into effect.
鈥淚t is due by December 1 this year, but we have asked the new health minister to bring it into force sooner so customers can get value.鈥�
Que Choisir internet subscribers (鈧�45/year or 鈧�6.99/month) can use an online mutuelle checker at .
