Luxembourg

You are free to choose either a general practitioner or a specialist. All doctors in Luxembourg are contracted with the CNS. You do not need a referral from a general practitioner to see a specialist. All doctors work under the public health insurance system, which means you can claim reimbursement for treatment costs in Luxembourg. Be sure to present your European Health Insurance Card and ID.

At the appointment, you must pay the full cost of the treatment upfront. Request a receipt for the payment so that you can later apply for reimbursement from the CNS. If you pay the invoice immediately at the doctor’s office, it will be dated and signed to serve as proof of payment. The reimbursement rate varies between 80% and 100%. Please note that costs may be higher outside normal consulation hours, such as during weekends and public holidays.

You may consult any dentist. All dentists work with the CNS. Beyond an annual amount that is fully reimbursed, dental consultations are reimbursed at a rate of 88%. However, specific reimbursement rates and conditions apply to dental prostheses.

For certain types of dental treatment, you must obtain prior approval from the CNS. Therefore, you should contact the CNS before your appointment to find out whether the treatment costs will be reimbursed.

Some procedures require the prior submission of a cost estimate, and dentists are then free to set their own prices for these procedures. It is important to request a detailed estimate in advance and contact the CNS to verify the reimbursement rate, if any.

You can collect medicines prescribed by a doctor in Luxembourg from any pharmacy. Show your European Health Insurance Card and keep the receipt for your purchase. You can apply for reimbursement from the health insurance fund using the original receipt and the original prescription. The reimbursement rate ranges from 0% to 100%. Medicines are covered at rates of 40%, 80%, or 100%, depending on whether they are included in the positive list of medications, which is published monthly on the website www.cns.lu.

Note that in Luxembourg, a prescription is required for nearly all medicines (for example, anti-allergy medicines). Some prescriptions must also be authorised by the CNS before the medicine can be provided. Check with your doctor in advance whether CNS approval is necessary before purchasing the medication.

Prescriptions in Luxembourg are generally valid for three months from the date of issue, unless otherwise specified. For more information, see the “1 Medicine” tab on this page: CNS – Medicines and medical devices.

If necessary, a doctor can refer you to a hospital for treatment. All hospitals in Luxembourg have a contract with the CNS. When you arrive, show your referral, European Health Insurance Card and ID at the hospital reception. This ensures that the CNS will cover the cost of hospital services directly. You only need to pay a small standard fee. This standard daily fee, which does not apply to children under 18. Each doctor involved in your hospital care (outpatient or inpatient) issues their own invoice. You must pay these invoices upfront and then apply for reimbursement from the CNS.

If you are hospitalised and, for your own comfort, wish to be treated in a first-class hospital room, the doctor is entitled to charge a copayment that is 66% higher than the official rate for all medical services provided during your stay. First-class hospital rooms also incur higher accommodation costs. These additional charges are not covered by Luxembourg’s health insurance.

Not all hospitals in Luxembourg provide emergency services outside regular hours. Emergency care is organised on a rotating basis. You can find information about which hospital is on duty from newspapers, pharmacies, doctors´ surgeries, or on lists posted on hospital doors. More information is available on Luxembourg’s Health Portal (Portail Santé) in French.

You should bring with you, in addition to any treatment-related documents, towels, soap, a toothbrush, and other personal items, as hospitals charge separately for these.

Emergency ambulance transport (provided by the Emergency Medical Aid Services, SAMU) is free of charge for persons with a valid European Health Insurance Card or a replacement certificate. Non-emergency transport is reimbursed up to 70%. Only transportation to or from a hospital is covered, and the prescription must state that, for medical reasons, the patient needs to be transported in a lying or semi-seated position.

Remember to make sure that your patient data is transferred between countries. You can provide those responsible for your follow-up care or your health centre with the patient records concerning the treatment you received abroad. If the patient records need to be translated, you will be responsible for arranging that yourself.

In the event of a treatment injury, the legislation and patient insurance of the country where the treatment was provided will apply. If you are dissatisfied with the treatment you received, you should primarily try to resolve the matter directly with the healthcare provider. If you wish to make a complaint, the national contact points in Luxembourg can help you identify the appropriate authority.

Luxembourg has a state-funded healthcare system based on compulsory health insurance. Patients are free to choose their healthcare provider. In Luxembourg, all healthcare providers (such as doctors, dentists, physiotherapists, etc.) have an agreement with the Luxembourg National Health Fund (Caisse nationale de santé, CNS), which means they are required to operate in accordance with the official compensation lists (nomenclatures) and tariffs. The state system covers most services provided by general practitioners and specialists. In also includes coverage for laboratory tests, pregnancy and childbirt care, rehabilitation, prescriptions, and hospital treatment.