15 June 2018

French hearing aid revolution

France has launched its “100% Health” plan, which will help cover the cost of hearing aids, glasses and dental treatment. The government has said the new policy aims to help the public: "to see well, to hear well and to take care for your oral hygiene” by accessing equitable and quality care; delivering on an election promise by President Emmanuel Macron.

The scheme aims to tackle unmet hearing needs and prevent the adverse impacts of hearing loss by ensuring that price is not a barrier to quality care. In the current system people pay an average top-up of €780 per hearing aid. By 2021 the new system will mean there is no top-up required for hearing aids costing up to €950 per ear. People will have a 30-day minimum trial of a hearing aid and a four-year guarantee, including annual follow-up checks.

The new arrangement was made possible after negotiations between the Ministry Health and the audiology, optics, and dentistry professions. The Ministry of Health published the details on Wednesday and these are available (in French) here.