Spa treatments: towards the end of social security reimbursement?

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In the pools, spa guests are seeking treatment, like a retiree who has suffered from poor circulation for several years. "When I leave the spa, I have a centimeter less in my ankle, so that's already quite a bit," she shares. For various pathologies, patients undergo spa treatment for 18 days, more than two-thirds of which is reimbursed by health insurance. But this treatment, accompanied by physiotherapy sessions, may no longer be covered.

The measure worries many spa guests. Reimbursing treatments less is the government's goal, given their estimated cost of €350 million per year. This move is all the more controversial given that their effectiveness is debated. This argument is rejected by the director of a spa that welcomes 5,500 spa guests each year. "We're fighting the wrong battle, we're actually fighting the wrong niche; this isn't where we should be saving money for social security. It's an average of €700 for three weeks of treatment; it's not expensive," assures Eric Chavane, director of the Luxeuil-les-Bains thermal baths.

With treatments being less reimbursed, will patients desert the spas ? This is what nearby businesses fear. In a restaurant, 30% of turnover depends on this clientele. "They are there from March to November, so it still represents a huge period for us, especially the summer period, when they are most numerous," confides restaurateur Collin Vuillemard. A hotelier located just across the street from a spa center is also worried. Without spa guests, his turnover could collapse. "It represents up to 60-70% of our turnover," says hotel manager Philippe Gaugirand. In total, spa treatments represent nearly 7,000 jobs in France.