Sick leave, medical records and social security appeals in France
On sick leave, parts 1 and 2 of the French sick note go to the health insurer within 48 hours, unless the doctor sends them online, and part 3 goes to the employer with the letter sending the sick note. The note itself is the secured form the doctor completes. Any patient can obtain their file with a request for access to the medical record, within eight days, or two months for information over five years old (article L. 1111-7 of the Public Health Code). A complaint to a hospital or clinic opens mediation and review by the users' committee, and a complaint to the medical association leads to conciliation within a month of its registration.
A reimbursement is first claimed through the free messaging of the ameli account, then by a complaint to the CPAM or to the supplementary health insurer, before the mediator. A decision of the CAF, CPAM or MSA is challenged within two months before the amicable appeals committee, a compulsory step before the social division of the tribunal judiciaire, and two months' silence is a rejection. A correct debt that cannot be repaid can be the subject of a request to write off an overpayment, except after fraud or a false declaration.
The documents are written in French. Those holding health data are sold blank, to complete by hand, and the social security number is always written by hand. They apply in mainland France and the overseas departments, Mayotte excepted for the social documents, are up to date on 13 October 2026, and are not official forms. The European Health Insurance Card, family allowances and registration with France Travail are applied for free online.
The documents
7 forms available to fill out or download.
Complaint to a hospital or clinic (France)
For a patient or relative unhappy with care in a French hospital or clinic: the written complaint to the establishment's legal representative under articles R. 1112-91 ff. of the French Public Health Code. In French, it sets out the facts and the request, and asks for review by the users' committee and a meeting with the mediator, who sees the complainant within eight days of being referred the case. Compensation for a medical accident is claimed free from the CCI on its own form. Sold blank, to complete by hand. Sent by registered post.
Appeal to the amicable appeals committee of the CAF, CPAM or MSA (France)
For a claimant or insured person who disputes a decision of their French family allowance fund (CAF), health insurance fund (CPAM), farmers' fund (MSA) or, overseas, general fund (CGSS) — a refused benefit, an overpayment, an amount — in mainland France or the overseas departments other than Mayotte. This appeal is compulsory before any court: it is made within two months of notification (article R. 142-1-A of the French Social Security Code), and two months' silence is a rejection. In French, the letter identifies the decision, your grounds and your request. Sold blank, to complete by hand, as the decision often concerns health. Sent by registered post.
Complaint to a supplementary health insurer about a reimbursement (France)
For a member of a French mutual, insurer or provident institution who has not received the expected reimbursement from their complémentaire santé. Check your online member area first, often the quickest. In French, the letter identifies the contract, the care and the amount expected, records the steps already taken and names the mediator in the contract, free, to be approached within a year of the written complaint. Sold blank, to complete by hand, as it holds health data. Sent by registered post to keep proof.
Complaint to the CPAM about a reimbursement of care (France)
For an insured person whose care was not reimbursed, or wrongly, by the French local health insurance fund (CPAM) in mainland France, or by the general social security fund (CGSS) in the overseas departments other than Mayotte. The free route comes first: the messaging service of the ameli account. In French, the letter is for when a posted complaint is better: it identifies the care, the dispute and the request, and names the fund's mediator and then the amicable appeals committee. The social security number is written by hand. Sold blank, as it holds health data.
Request to write off an overpayment from the CAF, CPAM or France Travail (France)
For someone who must repay a benefit paid in error (an overpayment) and cannot afford it, in mainland France or the overseas departments other than Mayotte. Without disputing the debt, the French letter asks for a full or partial write-off, or a payment plan, setting out the household's income, outgoings and situation; the law allows the claim to be reduced or cancelled for hardship, except for fraud or false declarations. To dispute the overpayment itself, an appeal is needed instead. Sold blank, to complete by hand, social security number included. Sent by registered post.
Request for access to a medical record (France)
For a patient who wants their medical record from a French hospital, clinic or doctor. In French, the letter relies on article L. 1111-7 of the French Public Health Code, lists the documents requested and chooses the form of access: a copy by post, consultation on the spot or sending to a designated doctor. It recalls the eight-day deadline, two months for information over five years old, and that only copying and postage may be charged. Sold blank, to complete by hand. Sent by registered post with a copy of an ID.
Complaint to the departmental council of the French medical association (France)
For a patient or anyone who blames a doctor for a breach of professional ethics: the written complaint to the departmental council of the ordre des médecins where the doctor is registered. In French, it identifies the doctor, sets out the facts, accepts the conciliation meeting held within a month of the complaint's registration, and asks for it to go to the disciplinary chamber within three months if conciliation fails (article L. 4123-2 of the French Public Health Code). Sold blank, to complete by hand. Sent by registered post.
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