Medical transport: the “vast majority” of taxis “will be winners,” assures the Health Insurance

"But some developments are favorable to them. For example, today, the flat rate for care varies from one department to another, and in some, there isn't even one. Tomorrow, it will be increased to 13 euros everywhere and even to 28 euros in large cities to take into account the time lost in traffic jams," recalls Thomas Fatôme regarding this project presented on May 15, which is due to come into effect on October 1.

The objective is to control the growth in health transport spending, which reached 6.74 billion euros in 2024, including 3.07 billion for licensed taxis (a jump of 45% since 2019).

These trips to hospitals or doctors' offices represent the majority of revenue for many drivers, especially in small towns. Thousands of them demonstrated for the fourth consecutive day on Thursday, successfully organizing a meeting at the Ministry of Transport on Saturday, attended by Prime Minister François Bayrou.

"The vast majority of taxis will benefit from this new model, because it is based on the logic of transporting more patients," says Thomas Fatôme, with notably "fewer empty returns" and "more shared transport." Transporting two patients instead of one will be "less expensive for the Health Insurance without taking money away from taxis," explains Thomas Fatôme, who indicates that the objective is to "better organize medical transport so that the expense is sustainable."