here is the return of the ‘rabbit tax’ on missed appointments

On November 22, 2024, the Senate relaunched a controversial project: the famous “rabbit tax”, aimed at penalizing patients who do not show up for their medical appointments. This system, supported by a senatorial majority from the right and the center, is part of the debates on the Social Security budget for 2025. If it arouses the support of certain elected officials for its objective of empowering patients, it also encounters strong opposition from the government and left-wing groups, who point out its flaws and its risks.

The rabbit tax: a measure to avoid medical waste

The idea behind the rabbit tax is simple: make patients responsible by establishing a financial penalty for each missed appointment without prior justification. According to the promoters of this measure, notably Les Républicains senator Corinne Imbert, this system responds to an increasingly large problem in the French health system. “ Medical time is precious time”she insists. Each consultation missed without warning results in a loss for the doctor and unnecessarily lengthens waiting times for other patients. However, it is estimated that more than 25 million medical appointments are missed each year in France.

The idea of ​​a rabbit tax is not new. In 2023, the former Prime Minister, Gabriel Attal, had already mentioned the implementation of such a measure to make patients responsible. He then proposed an application from 2025. However, the project was suspended due to the dissolution of the National Assembly in the spring of that year.

The exact amount of this penalty has not yet been set, but it should be defined by decree after final approval of the project. This would be a lump sum, taken directly from the insured person concerned. In practice, the patient would be informed of the sanction after verification by Health Insurance. Supportive senators believe that this tax could reduce negligent behavior and allow for better allocation of medical resources.

Senators vote largely for the rabbit tax

The Senate adopted the measure by a clear majority: 214 votes for and 127 against. However, this project is far from unanimous. The Minister of Health, Geneviève Darrieussecq, expressed strong reservations, evoking the “ implementation difficulties » and the risks of errors in the application of sanctions. According to her, Health Insurance, which would be responsible for detecting unfulfilled appointments, has neither the human nor technical resources to guarantee fair management of this tax. She also fears that patients will be penalized arbitrarily, particularly in cases where unforeseen events justify their absence.

The senatorial left, led by Bernard Jomier, a general practitioner by profession, also denounced what it describes as ” stubbornnesst” of the senatorial majority. According to him, the tax will only increase the financial pressure on those with social insurance without solving the real problems of the system. « This measure completely misses its objectives “, he declared, adding that the system does not meet the expectations of health professionals, who are above all asking for a reorganization of care and a reduction in their administrative burden.