Sick leave: medical checks by video conference generalised from December 2025
You have an employee on sick leave and suspect abuse? Until now, requesting a medical check meant a physical appointment, sometimes slow to arrange. Good news for employers: Health Insurance has just generalised a new video conference check system. Faster, more flexible, and potentially more of a deterrent.
Remote monitoring: what exactly is it?
Medical remote monitoring allows Health Insurance to carry out medical checksremotely, by video conference. Instead of summoning the insured person to an examination centre, the medical adviser can now examine them via a screen.
This system waspiloted for 3 monthsin three pilot regions: Normandy, Bourgogne-Franche-Comté and Occitanie. Results were clearly positive since the system has now beengeneralised across the whole of Francesince December 2025.
Which absences can be checked?
Remote monitoring can be used to verify justification for several types of absence:
- Standardsick leave
- (illness)
- Work accidents
- Occupational diseases
Certain disability applications
In other words, almost all health-related absences may be subject to remote checking.
How does it work in practice?
When Health Insurance decides to check an insured person, it may offer a video conference appointment. The insured person receives a summons with a link and a time slot.
On the day, the medical adviser carries out the examination remotely: discussion of symptoms, checking consistency of the sick note, possible questions on the evolution of health.
What if the employee refuses?The insured person may refuse remote monitoring for a legitimate reason (no suitable IT equipment, connection problems, etc.). In that case, anin-person appointment
is arranged.
However, beware: refusal without valid reason may be treated as a breach of the insured person's obligations, with the consequences that entails (including suspension of daily benefits).
What this means for employers
Faster checksThe main benefit of remote monitoring is itsspeed of implementation
. No need to wait for a slot at an examination centre, no postal summons delay. The check can be organised more quickly.
A stronger deterrent effectKnowing that a check can take place quickly and easily may have adeterrent effect
on convenience sick leave. An insured person extending unjustified leave knows they may be summoned by video conference within a few days.
How to request a check?
If you suspect a sick note is not justified, you may request a medical or administrative check from the CPAM. Contact details vary by department. For the Alpes-Maritimes CPAM, for example, a dedicated email address exists for employer reports.
Reminder: a check request must be substantiated. Simple disagreement with the length of leave is not enough. You need objective elements suggesting the leave is not medically justified.
Limits of the system
Remote monitoring has its limits. Some examinations require physical contact or specific medical equipment. In those cases, in-person checking remains the rule.
Moreover, the system's effectiveness depends on the insured person's cooperation: if they systematically cite technical problems to avoid video conference, the check may be delayed.
- Key takeawaysMedicalremote monitoring
- has been generalised since December 2025 nationwideHealth Insurance can check sick leave, work accidents/occupational diseases and disability applications by
- video conference
- The insured person may refuse for legitimate reason; an in-person appointment is then offeredThis system allowsfaster
- Employers can still request checks via the CPAM's usual channels
The fight against abusive absenteeism now has an additional tool. Use it wisely when the situation warrants it.