France implements new limits on sick leave duration

sick leave regulations French social security employment law medical prescription limits healthcare costs

New regulations regarding sick leave in France will take effect on September 1. Under a decree resulting from the 2026 Social Security Financing Bill, the duration of medical leave will now be subject to specific caps.

Medical professionals, including doctors, midwives, and dentists, will no longer be able to prescribe an initial sick leave period exceeding 31 days. Any subsequent extensions will be limited to a maximum of 62 days. The French government has implemented these measures to address rising costs, noting that sick leave instances increased by 10% between 2019 and 2024, with daily allowance expenditures reaching 17.9 billion euros in 2025.

Failure to comply with these new prescription limits may result in the CPAM refusing to pay daily allowances to the beneficiary. The government estimates these changes could generate 10 million euros in annual savings and reduce sick leave days by 1.2 million.

Entities

CPAM · DREES · France

Claims

What the coverage asserts, and how many sources carry each claim.

[● 2 SOURCES] The CPAM may refuse to pay daily allowances if the new prescription rules are not respected. www.bienpublic.com · www.leprogres.fr
[● 2 SOURCES] The sick leave cap is expected to generate 10 million euros in annual savings. www.bienpublic.com · www.leprogres.fr
[● 2 SOURCES] Sick leave extensions are capped at a maximum of 62 days. www.bienpublic.com · www.leprogres.fr
[● 2 SOURCES] The average duration of sick leave for 35-39 year olds increased from 27 to 31 days between 2012 and 2023. www.bienpublic.com · www.leprogres.fr
[● 2 SOURCES] Starting September 1, initial sick leave prescriptions are capped at a maximum of 31 days. www.bienpublic.com · www.leprogres.fr
[● 2 SOURCES] The government stated that the rising costs of sick leave are unsustainable. www.bienpublic.com · www.leprogres.fr