With the increase in the public deficit, the government is trying to make savings. MaPrimeRénov’, medical franchise… the hunt for savings is on. France 3 summarizes for you what is increasing and what is decreasing on April 1, 2024.
Every change of month brings its share of changes to rules, and sometimes habits. Between social benefits and the medical franchise, an overview of the few changes that will affect the daily lives of the French.
Since its creation in 2008 under the presidency of Nicolas Sarkozy, the medical franchise has not changed: 50 cents minimum to be paid by the patient for a medication or paramedical procedure, regardless of its reimbursement level.
From April 1, this franchise will double to one euro (and 4 euros per medical transport).
A savings measure for the government, which hopes to replenish health insurance funds by 800 million euros, but criticized by associations. “Making people who are sick pay double is not how we create responsibility. We make them feel guilty“, Gérard Raymond, president of France Assos Santé, told AFP in January.
Several social benefits are increased on April 1: the Active Solidarity Income (RSA), the activity bonus and the allowance for disabled adults (AAH). All increase by 4.6%, due to inflation.
The amount of the MaPrimeRénov’ subsidy, assistance in financing the energy renovation of housing, is reduced by 30%. This aid is awarded for the installation of wood, log or pellet boilers or stoves. It varies depending on household income. A budgetary decision, taken in February during the cut of 10 billion to prevent the increase in the public deficit.
The rent reference index (IRL), published by INSEE, caps the annual rent increases that owners can apply to their tenant. Since the summer of 2022, a “shield” limits the increase in the IRL to 3.5% for mainland France, 2% for Corsica and 2.5% for the overseas departments.
This shield had been extended until March 31, 2024, but will no longer be extended, given the drop in inflation (3% year-on-year in February).
The winter break, which began on November 1, 2023, ends. Like every year, during this period, the procedures for eviction of a tenant by an owner were suspended.
The end of the winter break also applies to energy. It therefore becomes possible again for suppliers to cut off electricity or gas to their private customers in their main residence for reasons of unpaid bills.
EDF, historic electricity supplier, however, has no longer carried out such cuts since 2022. Instead, it reduces the power supplied in order to ensure a “minimum service” (light, refrigerator, phone charging).
The green sticker to be placed on the windshield and the insurance certificate to be kept in the vehicle are replaced by an entry, within 72 hours after taking out an insurance contract, in a dematerialized file of insured vehicles ( FVA) to which the police will be able to access “from their digital tools on board on patrol“.
In the event of renewal or subscription to a new contract from April 2024, insurers must send “a memo” to the insured detailing their contract. Until now, failure to affix the sticker and failure to present the certificate was punishable by a fine of 35 euros. Car or motorcycle insurance obviously remains compulsory.