The end of free comfort screening tests (PCR tests and antigen tests) is scheduled for October 15. The announcement was made by Emmanuel Macron during a televised address on July 12. In addition to the compulsory vaccination of caregivers and the establishment of the health pass, the delisting of these screening tests for the unvaccinated aimed to convince those hesitant to vaccination.
Beyond this health argument, the cost of testing represents an enormous cost for health insurance. Bruno Le Maire, Minister of Economy and Finance, underlined at the beginning of July in the columns of the Journal du Dimanche, that “the policy of free, multiple and sometimes convenience tests for people who refuse to be vaccinated cannot be an appropriate health response. I remind you that we are one of the only countries where PCR and antigen tests are free. And they cost almost 100 million euros a week.”
The total bill is 6.2 billion euros this year. “It is no longer legitimate to pay excessively for comfort tests at the expense of taxpayers”, justified the Prime Minister.
What prices? For who ?
>> The case of vaccinated persons:
Concretely, for the 50 million French people already vaccinated (75% of the population), nothing changes. Tests will continue to be reimbursed for medical reasons, without the need for a prescription. Concretely, if you are vaccinated and you have symptoms suggestive of Covid-19 (because remember, the vaccine protects against severe forms but not completely from transmission, so it is possible to be contaminated while being vaccinated), then you can continue to get tested for free.
>> The case of unvaccinated persons:
However, PCR and antigen tests will no longer be reimbursed if you are not vaccinated, starting October 15. According to the Ministry of Health, this represents 5.9 million adults.
- PCR tests will cost 44 euros for adults not vaccinated without a prescription.
- Antigenic tests will be charged 22 euros if they are carried out in the laboratory and 35 euros (30 euros on Sundays) in pharmacies.
- The self-tests will be invoiced at 5.20 euros.
However, the tests will always be free and covered, without being vaccinated, in the following cases:
- For adults not vaccinated, but with symptoms, on presentation of a prescription within 48 hours.
- For unvaccinated people who will need a test to have surgery.
- For unvaccinated people with a certificate of contraindication to the vaccine.
- For unvaccinated people, identified as “contact cases”.
>> Free tests are also maintained for minors and high school students, even if they are adults
Read also:
- School: the list of departments where the mask becomes optional
- Variant Delta (Indian): symptoms, vaccination, progression in France
- What is reactive vaccination, the strategy recommended by HAS to limit variants?
- Covid-19: we explain the retrotracing (or Japanese-style tracing) which will be generalized on July 1