Dentists and physicians mislead patients about prices, markup fees, and charge illegal expenses, directly hitting the wallets of health-care users.
A troubling rate of infractions among health professionals
It is a worrying assessment for our health-care system: according to an investigation by France’s Directorate General for Competition, Consumer Affairs and Fraud Prevention (DGCCRF), among 1,100 private-practice health facilities inspected between 2025 and 2026, 39% showed serious violations related to price transparency, reports Libération. Dentists and physicians mislead patients about prices, overcharges, and hidden fees. The inquiry reveals systemic practices that directly threaten the wallets of health-care users.
According to Libération, of the 1,100 private-practice health professionals inspected, 429 had to face corrective or punitive measures. The DGCCRF issued 189 compliance orders and more than thirty sanctions, including police reports and administrative fines. As of October 1, 2026, the fines issued exceeded €130,000.
Massive infractions among dentists
Dentists account for the most frequent violations. Among 525 dental offices inspected, more than 50% failed to comply with price-display and sector-convention rules. Additionally, a quarter of practitioners fell short of documentation obligations, with quotes missing or noncompliant. Physicians were not far behind: 55% of the 300 doctors inspected had at least one failure to meet mandatory disclosures. Price opacity affects the entire medical sector, including for routine procedures.
Enforcement revealed non-medical charges billed without a legal basis, such as “file-management fees” or “archiving fees.” Yet these charges are unwarranted because they are not medical services and there is no tangible service behind them. These practices create barriers to care, with the least affluent patients sometimes foregoing consultations. Since January 2026, SignalConso has logged more than 2,000 reports concerning the lack of transparency by health professionals, fueling this large-scale investigation.
A collective medical facility was fined €150,000 for deceptive business practices, leading patients to believe its doctors were in the Sector 1 reimbursement tier, when 75% of its doctors actually charged out-of-pocket markups. Patients discovered the actual bill after the consultation. The DGCCRF described these acts as deliberate deception, justifying the stiff penalty. Additional criminal proceedings are underway for similar cases.
Protecting yourself as a patient
Every patient has rights. Before any medical service costing more than about $75, a detailed estimate must be provided, stating the base price, any potential surcharges, and the portion reimbursed by health insurance. The billing category must be clearly displayed. Demanding transparency protects your health budget and your trust in the healthcare system.
The SignalConso platform allows you to report any dubious practice: lack of price display, refusal to provide a quote, unjustified fees. Each report feeds DGCCRF investigations and puts pressure on professionals. Nearly 90% of establishments complied after inspections, proving the effectiveness of the punitive and preventive framework.
Also read
Understanding reimbursements and coverage of your health insurance plan.
