Maternity leave and employee benefits: what you should know
News
Maternity leave and employee benefits: what you should know
September 30, 2020
During an employee’s maternity leave, special rules apply to the reimbursement of their healthcare costs and the validation of their pension entitlements.
Employed mothers-to-be are entitled to a maternity leave – paid for by France’s national health insurance system – so that that they can take special care of themselves and their babies prior to and after childbirth.
This maternity leave lasts:
- 16 weeks for the family’s first and second child,
- 26 weeks for the third child,
- 34 weeks for the birth of twins,
- 46 weeks for triplets or other multiple births.
Employees on maternity leave have different entitlements regarding their healthcare and pension benefits.
Which medical expenses are covered?
As of the sixth month of pregnancy and for 12 days following childbirth, all healthcare costs – doctor’s fees, medication, exams, etc. – are fully reimbursed by France’s national health insurance system. This includes costs not related to the pregnancy or the childbirth. Furthermore, third-party payment is the rule during this period, so mothers do not need to advance any payment or wait for reimbursements.
But there are exceptions. Third-party payment does not apply to the portion of doctor’s fees that exceed the government-set rate, costs incurred by having the baby in a private clinic that does not practice the government-set rates, or expenses considered to be “extras”, such as private rooms or television rentals.
Nevertheless, your employer-sponsored health plan may cover all or part of any excess costs or “extras”. Even if the employee’s work contract is suspended during their maternity leave, they continue to pay into the company’s group plan (the employer is still required to pay at least 50% of the health insurance premium).
Note that the cost of getting to the hospital or clinic by ambulance or taxi can be reimbursed by France’s national health insurance if that mode of transport was prescribed by a doctor.
How are pension entitlements calculated?
Since 1 January 2014, the full period of maternity leave now counts toward the calculation of pension entitlements. One trimester, or quarter, is credited per 90 days of maternity leave, even if contributions are not made during that time (since no contributions are made from the daily allowances received during maternity leave). Ordinarily, to be credited one quarter, an employee must earn the equivalent of 150 hours paid at minimum wage (€1,522.50 in 2020).
The Agirc-Arrco supplementary pension system, which is points-based, credits “free” points (not dependent on contributions) if the maternity leave lasts longer than 60 days.
