As the richest country in the world, Luxembourg offers an excellent healthcare system. Most of the population— expats included— are covered by the national healthcare fund financed by income and several other taxes. The public healthcare system covers most of the medical services and works on a reimbursement process, i.e., patients pay and are later reimbursed by the national insurance fund. Those who can afford it also opt for private insurance to get additional coverage.
Luxembourg Healthcare System Main Features
Here are some of Luxembourg’s healthcare system’s main features:
- Taxes and government funding finance the healthcare system, and anyone who lives in Luxembourg needs to join the national health insurance fund.
- The ministry of health regulates healthcare in Luxembourg, and since 2008 union of sickness funds and private sector sickness funds merged to create the National Health Fund (the Caisse Nationale de Santé- CNS).
- Health insurance is compulsory for every legal resident and citizen in Luxembourg.
- The CNS or the NHF is overviewed by the Minister of Social Security and is in charge of regulating the health insurance, accident insurance, and pension insurance fund.
- The CNS covers around 99% of the population in Luxembourg— registration is automatically linked with employment.
- Each resident has freedom of choice regarding hospitals and medical providers.
- Unlike in other EU countries, patients in Luxembourg are not required to visit a general practitioner before visiting a specialist.
- The healthcare system in Luxembourg works in a reimbursement process, wherein after a patient concludes a medical visit, they pay for the services. They are later reimbursed by the national healthcare fund— CNS.
- Each insured person is equipped with a social security number which they need to provide whenever they visit a doctor.
- Insurance covers 80% to 100% of medical costs depending on the patient’s situation.
- Patients can purchase private health insurance to cover the gaps left uncovered by the public healthcare system.
Do I Need Health Insurance in Luxembourg?
Yes, anyone who moves to Luxembourg for more than three months must have valid health insurance. Residents and citizens must sign up with the national health care insurance fund (the Caisse Nationale de Santé- CNS). Still, most expats also prefer private health insurance for additional coverage.
How Can Expats Sign Up for Health Insurance in Luxembourg?
To sign up for health insurance in Luxembourg as an expat, you need to follow the steps listed below:
- Register with the CCSS. After entering Luxembourg, you first need to make sure you have your social security number. Usually, your employer will register you with the Join Centre of Social Security (Centre commun de la sécurité sociale – CCSS). Afterwards, you can receive health and other insurance (accident, maternity, etc.).
- Use your insurance. You can visit any medical centre in Luxembourg when you need medical attention. After you finish your visit, you must present your social security number to the medical provider, pay for the services and wait for reimbursement.
You can also get expat health insurance with worldwide coverage at International Citizens Insurance.
What Is Covered by CNS in Luxembourg?
The national health insurance fund in Luxembourg, or the CNS, covers an extensive range of medical services, including the following:
- Hospital treatment and stays.
- Doctor’s fees.
- Preventative care.
- Medicine.
- Dental treatment.
- Eye treatment (spectacles,
- Prosthesis.
- General rehabilitation.
- Physiotherapy.
- Maternity costs.
The following are not covered by CNS:
- A daily contribution fee for inpatient care of €24 for a maximum of 30 days per year.
- An €11.25 fee for outpatient care in a surveillance room.
- Comfort benefits such as TV in the hospital or a single room.
Private Health Insurance in Luxembourg
Private health insurance in Luxembourg plays a more supplemental role in filling out the gaps that the CNS does not cover. Expats prefer private insurance since it provides an extra layer of protection.
Here are some of the most recommended companies for expat private insurance:
- AXA
- Cigna Global
- Bupa Global
- Allianz Care
Some companies may have their own chosen private insurance provider, which they offer to their employees as supplemental insurance. So, make sure you discuss this with your employer first.
Health Insurance Reimbursement Process in Luxembourg
Generally speaking, the payment process for medical services in Luxembourg can go one of the two ways:
| Payment directly to the medical provider | Payment between the CNS and the medical provider |
| After you finish the medical visit, you are required to pay for the medical services. Make sure you retrieve your receipt, and together with your invoice, receipted invoices and your national ID number, you must send them to the CNS and wait for reimbursement. | You won’t be required to pay on your own; the reimbursement is dealt with between the CNS and the medical provider. For example, if you go to a pharmacy, you can receive your prescription with no payment, and the pharmacy will be reimbursed by the CNS for your expenses. Of course, you have to keep in mind that prescriptions are covered at a rate of 40%, 80%, or 100%, depending on your medical situation. You’re in charge of paying the difference, which is not covered by the CNS. |
The CNS reimburses you between 80% to 100% of the expenses, but you need to collect a number of documents such as the receipt for paid services and send them to the CNS to receive reimbursement. Remember to include a bank identity statement the first time you request reimbursement.
How Long Does it Take for the CNS to Reimburse Medical Costs?
In normal working conditions, it usually takes 2-4 weeks for the CNS to reimburse you the costs of a doctor’s consultation costs. However, lately, with the system overloading, it may take between 6 to 8 weeks.
Health Insurance in Luxembourg for Employed Expats
Employed expats have access to health insurance in Luxembourg just like any citizen; however, there are some registration differences depending on your employment status:
- If you are an employee under a Luxembourgish employer— your employer will register with the social security office, and then you will be eligible for health insurance. A small portion of your salary goes towards these social contributions, and your employer pays half of the contribution.
- If you are self-employed, you must complete the registration with the Join Centre of Social Security (Centre commun de la sécurité sociale – CCSS) and make sure you make the social contributions accordingly. Around 24% to 27% of your income goes to social contributions, which— in addition to health— cover a wide range of social services such as accident insurance, pension, life, maternity, etc.
Student Health Insurance in Luxembourg
International students who want to study in Luxembourg must have valid health insurance. For the initial settling period until you finalise your enrollment with your university, you need travel insurance for your student permit. The travel insurance for your stay must follow the rules and regulations of the Schengen area. For more information, read Schengen visa travel insurance!
Then, once you settle down in Luxembourg, you must register with the national healthcare system CNS. For this, you have to check with your university and see whether they will complete the registration on your behalf or if you must submit a request for affiliation directly with the CNS.
Do EU Citizens Need Health Insurance in Luxembourg?
If you’re an EU citizen, you can access healthcare in Luxembourg by providing your European Health Insurance Card-EHIC. However, you must remember that this is valid for temporary stays. So, if you plan on staying long-term in Luxembourg, you must first register with a local registration office as a new resident and sign up for the national health insurance scheme.
If you’re a cross-border worker, i.e., someone who works and lives in different EU countries, different rules apply. In this case, the country where you work is usually in charge of your health insurance. So, if you live in another EU country but work in Luxembourg, you must ensure you are affiliated with the CNS and receive proper health insurance. To receive reimbursement from your country of residence, you will need to fill out the proper form issued by your local insurance fund in Luxembourg (S1 form). The CNS will then send the form to a local insurance fund in your country of residence.
How Can Retired Expats Get Health Insurance in Luxembourg?
To become eligible for the state pension at retirement age and access health insurance, expats in Luxembourg must have lived and worked there for at least 120 months, i.e., ten years. If you’re planning to move to Luxembourg for your retirement, you first need to make sure you have a valid residence permit. Then, you can look into arranging your health insurance.
You might be able to transfer your pension to Luxembourg and enrol with the CNS and receive public health insurance. For this, you need to contact the appropriate authorities in your country of residence and Luxembourg before you plan to move there for your retirement. On the other hand, you can opt for international private health insurance as well.
Does Luxembourg Have Universal Healthcare?
Healthcare in Luxembourg is universal and offered to every citizen and legal resident. Expats are also included in the national healthcare plan and can receive health insurance— provided they pay social contributions.
Cost of Health Insurance in Luxembourg
Around 12% of your salary goes to social contributions, whereas your employer also contributes between 12-15%. These social contributions pay for your healthcare, so when you visit a doctor, your expenses are reimbursed by the national insurance fund CNS. However, if you are not insured, a visit to a doctor can cost between €40 to €50 in Luxembourg.
Is Healthcare Free in Luxembourg?
Healthcare in Luxembourg is not completely free. Healthcare services are made possible by taxes you pay out of your salary, and then the services are partially reimbursed in most cases. A complete reimbursement is possible if you are dealing with a long-term illness or a difficult medical treatment plan.
How Does a Doctor’s Visit Look Like in Luxembourg?
Here is what a consultation with a doctor usually looks like in Luxembourg:
- You need medical attention. When you need medical attention, you have the freedom to choose your doctor and hospital in Luxembourg. If you’re unsure how to book an appointment, you can use the locator here to find a doctor or a specialist in Luxembourg.
- You visit a doctor in Luxembourg. Once you have booked your appointment, you must bring your social security card with you since it shows you are eligible for public insurance.
- You pay for the services. After attending your medical appointment, you must pay for the medical services. Then, you need to collect your receipt and send it to CNS. Some services are settled between the CNS and the medical provider, such as lab work, medicine, etc.
- You receive reimbursement. Finally, after the CNS processes your request for reimbursement, you’re compensated between 80% and 100%. Usually, long-term patients or those with rare diseases receive 100% reimbursement.
| Did you know that Luxembourg has no private hospitals? The national health care fund- CNS manages all hospitals. |
Emergency Services in Luxembourg
For emergency services in Luxembourg, contact 112, which will connect you to the proper authorities, police, ambulance, or fire department. The operators usually speak English, so language should not be a problem. In non-emergency cases, contact the proper authorities with the following numbers:
- Police department: 244 244 244
- Fire department: 44 22 44
You can also use the government app GouvAlert app. The app will alert you for any emergency, but if you contact the police via the app, they can use it to pinpoint your location.