Covid-19: recognition as an occupational disease for severely ill patients

Recognition as an occupational disease entitles the holder to reimbursement of the cost of 100% on the basis of the Social Security tariff and of more advantageous daily allowances than during a regular sick leave.

For sequelae causing permanent incapacityHowever, a life annuity is granted, calculated according to the severity of the after-effects and the income before the virus contracted.

Beneficiaries of a person who has died of COVID-19 may also receive an annuity.

Who is involved?

• Professionals practicing in the health sector (in the hospital, in Ehpad, at home) can automatically benefit from this recognition if their contamination:
  
  • took place in the course of their work;
  • has resulted in a serious respiratory condition involving the use of oxygen or other respiratory support, or death.
  
  The disease must also have been confirmed by a biological examination or a scan (or, failing this, by a report on hospitalization).
  In the event that these health professionals have suffered from a serious condition other than respiratory illness, their application for recognition shall be examined in advance by a committee of medical experts.
• Liberal health professionals and non-health care workers can also apply for occupational disease recognition if they contracted COVID-19 in the course of their work and the illness resulted in a serious illness.
  Their request is examined by a national committee of independent experts composed of a medical officer of the health insurance fund and a hospital practitioner or an occupational physician.

How to make the declaration?

The website declare-diseepro.ameli.fr allows all affected individuals to report online.

To apply, you must attach the necessary documents to study the file:

• the initial medical certificate (MIC) issued by the treating physician, which makes the diagnosis of Covid-19 and mentions the clinical elements or examinations which made it possible to make this diagnosis;
• a report of hospitalization including oxygen or ventilatory support and COVID-19 diagnosis. If oxygen therapy was done outside of a hospital setting (such as at home), the treating physician should include this information in the MIC;
• proof of professional activity;
• for healthcare professionals and employed persons working in the care sector: a certificate from the employer mentioning employment and periods of absence in 2020;
• for liberal healthcare professionals: a statement on the honor mentioning the performance of acts of care during the 15 days preceding the diagnosis of infection;
• for employed persons, outside the care sector: a certificate from the employer stating the employment and periods of absence in 2020;

• only for those entitled to receive a death from Covid-19: a copy of the death certificate of the relative concerned, in addition to the documents previously requested.

The application is then examined by the health insurance fund.