The French government has announced plans to achieve 1.7 billion euros in savings on healthcare expenditures in 2025 in response to budget overruns observed in the early months of the year, as stated by Catherine Vautrin, Minister of Labor and Health. Looking ahead to the 2026 budget, proposals include a potential "année blanche" or "blank year," which would involve freezing all social benefits without inflation adjustments. This measure could yield savings ranging from 3 to 15 billion euros and appears to have growing consensus within both parliamentary chambers. The Senate's general rapporteur on the budget has highlighted possible savings between 30 and 50 billion euros overall, emphasizing the need for prioritizing reductions in public spending. Additional proposals include up to 6.5 billion euros in savings on health insurance suggested by the Medef employers' organization and potential cuts of 10 billion euros from the state budget, including possible reductions in civil servant positions. The "année blanche" measure is described as unprecedented and serious, with officials acknowledging that many social benefits might not be paid during such a period.