How can I take advantage of the healthcare system in Luxembourg? This article contains all the information you need about healthcare in Luxembourg.
Luxembourg boasts a total of 10 hospitals, comprising 4 hospital centers and 6 specialized hospitals. The country is home to more than 1,355 doctors. The quality of care provided in Luxembourg is second to none in neighboring countries.
Characteristics of the healthcare system in Luxembourg
Based on the values of solidarity, universal accessibility, and fair treatment, the Luxembourg healthcare system is characterized in particular by:
- Providing coverage for the entire population through mandatory health insurance and extended care insurance for the long term.
- Mandatory arrangement with authorized healthcare professionals or entities and the requirement for these providers to adhere to the pricing established by the National Health Fund (CNS).
- A largely independent approach to medical practice, where doctors take the lead in providing all services eligible for health insurance coverage.
- Patients can choose their healthcare provider and can directly consult with specialists.
- Planning for hospitals and the pharmaceutical sector.
- Fair treatment of providers, whether legal entities or individuals, without discrimination based on their status.
Available healthcare services in Luxembourg
Healthcare in Luxembourg operates through various components, including doctors, medical-social centers, hospitals, on-call services, pharmacies, assistance and care facilities, and homecare networks.
General practitioners typically offer primary care services, usually consulting only during the day and on weekdays. Their focus includes preventive measures, basic diagnosis, and treatment of less complex illnesses. Conversely, healthcare facilities such as hospitals and specialist medical practices handle secondary care, encompassing expert advice, diagnosis, treatment, and specialized care. Lastly, tertiary care, frequently administered post-hospitalization, is furnished by nursing homes or homecare networks.
Medical centers in Luxembourg
Three medical centers offer a continuous medical service outside regular consultation hours, providing care during evenings, weekends, and public holidays. They step in for general practitioners outside their working hours, thus helping to prevent overcrowding in hospital emergency rooms.
Healthcare reimbursement in Luxembourg
Every individual employed or living in Luxembourg must be associated with one of the country's social security funds. The employer is in charge of handling the necessary procedures for affiliation. Any resident in Luxembourg who is not engaged in professional activity is required to voluntarily register for social security. Afterward, the Centre Commun de la Sécurité Sociale (CCSS) takes on the responsibility of enrolling the individual with the appropriate health insurance fund, resulting in the issuance of a national insurance card. This card displays the identity and registration number of the insured individual.
The Luxembourg health insurance fund covers 88% of the cost of doctor's consultations and 80% of medical visits, with the patient responsible for the remaining amount. Regarding home visits, the doctor's travel expenses are fully reimbursed within a specific distance limit, calculated using an official distance map-based tariff. Luxembourg's social security system does not operate with direct billing, except in rare cases (blood tests, medications, etc.). Therefore, you must pay the amount upfront and then request reimbursement from the CNS by sending the invoice by mail. Note that postal mail to the CNS is free, so it is not necessary to stamp the envelopes containing medical invoices.
Medical treatments and services are reimbursed at the total conventional rate of 100% unless there are specific instructions to the contrary. In the case of other medical treatments and services provided outside of a hospital setting, the health insurance fund covers 80% of the cost, while the remaining 20% is the patient's responsibility. However, exceptions apply to treatments like chemotherapy, radiotherapy, hemodialysis, preventive and screening tests, certain technical procedures under preventive medicine initiatives, and specific medical programs for follow-up at child psychiatry day-care centers or the national functional re-education and rehabilitation center.
In addition, the health insurance company does not cover certain cases. These are as follows :
- Multiple appointments or visits with a general practitioner or specialist within a 24-hour period in the same medical field (excluding emergency medical interventions).
- Having more than two appointments or medical visits with a general practitioner or specialist within a single week in the same medical field.
- Exceeding a total of 12 appointments or medical visits with a general practitioner or specialist in the same medical field during a span of six months, excluding consultations or visits related to geriatric long-stay or inpatient care.
- Having more than one extra appointment with a general practitioner or specialist in the same medical field within a six-month timeframe.
- Higher charges for receiving care in a first-class or single occupancy room.
- Additional fee for personal convenience.
- Charging for appointments that were not attended.
In cases of medical conditions requiring specialized follow-up that cannot be provided in Luxembourg, it is possible to request authorization from the CNS to receive treatment in another European country. This offers the opportunity to consult the best specialists while benefiting from reimbursement equivalent to that provided in Luxembourg.
Health insurance for cross-border commuters in Luxembourg
Frontier workers refer to individuals employed in Luxembourg but residing in another member state, whom they visit at least once a week. These workers predominantly originate from Belgium, France, and Germany. To qualify for healthcare benefits and reimbursement in Luxembourg, specific procedures need to be followed.
The employer is required to complete registration with the CCSS. Following this, the employer enrolls the frontier worker as the primary insured with the appropriate health insurance fund. It's important to note that spouses, partners, or dependent children are not automatically covered under the primary insured's policy. The frontier worker must undertake their registration, considering that the classification of family member status is subject to the regulations of the health insurance fund in the country of residence. Specifically, the latter must furnish a certificate verifying family members' eligibility for the benefits outlined in the document.
Once affiliation with the CCSS is established, the frontier worker is promptly issued a certificate that validates their eligibility for sickness and maternity insurance benefits in Luxembourg. This applies especially to individuals residing in a country other than the one with jurisdiction. This certificate should then be provided to the health insurance fund in the respective country of residence.
This affiliation grants you access to health benefits in Luxembourg, just like residents. Sickness and maternity benefits are provided under identical terms for both residents and cross-border commuters. To claim reimbursement for health insurance contributions in Luxembourg, you must forward fee statements and paid invoices to the appropriate Luxembourg health insurance fund. For benefits received in kind in your country of residence, reimbursement should be sought from the health insurance fund in that specific country.
If you receive treatment outside Luxembourg and your country of residence, you should send the fee statements and receipts to the appropriate Luxembourg health insurance fund. Reimbursement will be processed according to the rates and tariffs specified by the laws of the Grand Duchy.
Cross-border workers can perform up to 49.9% of their working time in their country of residence without changing their social security affiliation. Beyond this percentage, they can no longer be affiliated with Luxembourg's social security system and are required to obtain coverage in their country of residence.
Special provisions for Belgian frontier workers in Luxembourg
A bilateral agreement between Belgium and Luxembourg allows Belgian cross-border workers to receive an extra reimbursement amount. This is intended to offset the disparity between the benefits offered in Belgium and the overall standard of care provided to affiliated individuals living in the Grand Duchy.
Private health insurance in Luxembourg
It is highly recommended for expatriates to secure health insurance before their departure. Feel free to contact the insurance provider that best suits your requirements. You can also obtain a complimentary quote on our page dedicated to expatriate health insurance in Luxembourg.
Useful links:
Ministry of Health: https://msan.gouvernement.lu/fr.html
Ministry of Social Security: www.mss.public.lu
Social security institutions: www.secu.lu
Caisse Nationale de Santé (CNS): www.cns.lu
Health portal: www.sante.public.lu
Emergency portal of the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg: www.112.public.lu
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