French insurers face financial pressure as the government seeks to reduce the social security deficit, with health and protection insurers most exposed to potential cost shifts, according to Fitch Ratings.
The worries come as Fitch Ratings has revised the Outlook on France's Long-Term Issuer Default Ratings (IDRs) to Negative from Stable and affirmed the Long-Term IDRs at 'A+'.
French health and protection insurers have the greatest exposure to sovereign pressure following the revision of France’s sovereign rating Outlook to Negative from Stable on 30 October.
“We believe the French state’s measures aiming to reduce the social security deficit could shift further costs to complementary insurers,” said Fitch in its statement on the outlook revision.
Regulatory, competitive and affordability constraints could limit insurers' ability to reprice fully and rapidly, they added.
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