Supplementary health insurance: towards a new rate increase in France in 2026
Nicolas Medan, Managing Director of KMH Benefits, takes stock of the trends that are set to shape the French supplementary health insurance market in 2026.
Nicolas Medan, Managing Director of KMH Benefits, takes stock of the trends that are set to shape the French supplementary health insurance market in 2026.
Renewals 2026 – First signals from the French market
I’ve had many conversations lately — with our clients, with Global Benefits Managers, with teams across geographies — and one thing is always clear: renewal season is a key moment.
It’s when budgets are finalized, strategies are reviewed, and employer promises turn into actual benefits.
At KMH Benefits, we’ve made it a point to anticipate these cycles as early as possible. Our summer meetings with insurers are underway, and the early signals are consistent: health and disability costs are going up — and it’s not stopping anytime soon.
Supplementary health insurance: Soft words, firm pricing
Insurers are being diplomatic, but behind the scenes, pricing grids are being adjusted — and the trend is upwards. Health claims have continued to rise in 2025 across most categories (especially pharmacy, surgery, and outpatient care), and everyone is bracing for additional charges from public authorities in 2026.
We’re hearing average increases around 5 to 6%, before any adjustments linked to the PMSS, that famous French social ceiling.
PMSS, PASS… and why we care
The PMSS (Plafond Mensuel de la Sécurité Sociale) and the PASS (its annual version) are national benchmarks updated every year based on wage growth. They impact how much Social Security pays — and, by extension, how much private insurers have to top up.
Most group health and disability contracts are structured as multiples of the PMSS. So when it rises, everything else does too: claims, premiums, employer contributions.
Here’s how the PASS has evolved over the past 10 years:
- 2015 – €38,040
- 2016 – €38,616
- 2017 – €39,228
- 2018 – €39,732
- 2019 – €40,524
- 2020 – €41,136
- 2021 – €41,136
- 2022 – €41,136
- 2023 – €43,992
- 2024 – €46,368
- 2025 – €47,100
That’s nearly +25% in a decade — a slow but steady driver of increased costs across the board.
Disability: Burnout is not just a buzzword
Disability plans are under pressure too, partly due to changes in how the French Social Security system calculates daily benefits. Since spring 2025, public coverage is lower, which means private insurers are paying more.
What’s more worrying: mental health -related claims are increasing sharply, especially among younger employees. Burnout, stress, anxiety — it’s no longer anecdotal. It’s becoming structural.
A new study just released shows that nearly 40% of long-term sick leaves among under-30s are now due to psychological issues. That says something about our work culture — and what needs to change.
2026 will come with higher costs
This upward trend is a view shared by some of our main partners.
Increases in healthcare seem inevitable, notably due to a new tax following the non-transfer of reimbursements from the social security system to mutual insurance companies.
The provident scheme will also see an increase, due to the aging of the population, later retirement and, above all, the disengagement of the French social security system, which has reduced the ceiling to 1.4 SMIC instead of 1.8 SMIC.
We’ll know more in September when insurers publish full renewal terms and client-specific adjustments. But the direction is already set: 2026 will come with higher costs, and we’d all do well to prepare now.
Until then — enjoy your summer, and see you in the fall.