"It is dealing with problems with an ax and it is never the right solution, but if the insurers do not find the way out themselves, we will have no choice but to maintain this mandatory levy. of 1.2 billion euros.
“Asked Friday about RMC, Bruno Le Maire, the Minister of the Economy, Finance and Recovery, toughened his tone against insurers, accused of not supporting their customers in the hotel sector, cafes and foodservice (UNHCR) - hardest hit by the coronavirus crisis and containment.
If they do not commit this Monday, December 7 to freeze the contributions of their professional multi-risk contracts for 2021, Bruno Le Maire threatens to make them pay a punitive tax of 1.2 billion euros.
An amendment providing for this tax has already been adopted by the Senate and could be adopted in the next few days by the Assembly as part of the second reading examination of the finance bill.
A very dissuasive tax
The threat raised by the minister is taken very seriously by insurers.
They have multiplied this week the consultation meetings under the aegis of the French Insurance Federation (FFA, bringing together more than 260 insurers) and the discussions, continued throughout the weekend, are on the verge of being concluded.
"The profession has every interest in it because this tax of 1.2 billion euros, which represents 2% of their annual turnover, is without comparison with the actions requested on the premiums", blows a good observer of the sector, which estimates this tax "widely ten times more expensive".
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Between a rock and a hard place, several insurers contacted say they are already ready to agree to freeze their premiums in the HCR sector next year.
But we should not expect a common agreement on Monday.
"The FFA cannot make a price commitment on behalf of its members, because this would be comparable to an agreement on prices", warns the Federation.
Insurers should therefore make the announcement individually.
However, the Federation should not come to Bercy empty-handed.
It must meet its executive council just before meeting Bruno Le Maire where it should take several additional actions.
One way to show the minister that he has been heard when he asks that the premium freeze be "a minimum".
Other concessions to come
This weekend, three commitments under discussion are, according to our information, "close to an agreement", according to an insurer.
The first aims to broaden the freeze on multi-risk professional bonuses granted to the HCR sector to all VSEs and SMEs eligible for the solidarity fund, which are also very affected by the Covid-19 crisis.
And all the companies targeted by the solidarity fund should also see the premiums for their health and welfare contracts frozen in 2021. "Two or three insurers remain to be convinced but we are on the right track", assures a close to the discussions.
Last element under debate, the insurance mediator could see his field of competence extended to companies.
Until now called upon to manage disputes between individuals and insurers, he would then be called upon to intervene in the event of disputes between SMEs and their company.
