The reform of third-party payment in pharmacies marks a turning point in the management of healthcare reimbursements in France. From now on, it will no longer be possible to benefit from third-party payment without presenting your Vitale card. This measure, announced by the Health Insurance on June 17, 2025, aims to strengthen the fight against abuse and fraud, particularly for certain medications particularly targeted by trafficking or diversion.
What is third-party payment again?
Third-party payment allows policyholders to avoid paying healthcare costs upfront: the Health Insurance pays the healthcare professional directly, thus avoiding the patient having to pay out of pocket before being reimbursed. Until now, the presentation of the Vitale card was already strongly recommended, but it is now becoming systematic for all medication dispensing.
On physical and electronic cards
The objective stated by the National Health Insurance Fund is threefold: to secure the dispensing of high-risk medications, limit fraud, and improve the traceability of the care pathway. The medications concerned are those that may be subject to trafficking or misuse, hence the need to strengthen their control. The presentation of the Vitale card also aims to combat identity theft.
The Cnam specifies that this obligation applies to both the physical card and its electronic version. Thus, in theory, it will be sufficient to be in possession of one or the other to avoid having to pay upfront at the pharmacy. This development hopes to accompany the gradual digitization of the Vitale card, with the arrival of a mobile application that should be widespread by the end of 2025. However, for the moment, it is better to be content with the physical format: very few healthcare professionals accept the Vitale card on smartphones.
Some exceptions
Exceptions are planned. Infants under three months old and residents of nursing homes will be able to continue to benefit from third-party payment without presenting a Vitale card. This is a way, according to the Cnam, to avoid penalizing vulnerable or dependent people. For beneficiaries of state medical aid, the presentation of an AME card will be required instead of the Vitale card. In case of forgetfulness, the insured will have to advance the cost of their medication and will then be reimbursed by the Health Insurance, according to the usual procedures.
The Cnam insists on the responsibility of insured persons, and on the “good reflexes” to adopt: by remembering to present their Vitale card each time they visit the pharmacy, patients avoid having to advance costs, and ensure faster care.
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