What should you do in the event of an accident or illness abroad?

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Before you leave: prepare for your trip

Tip: plan ahead to avoid any nasty surprises. Good preparation will ensure you can quickly access the necessary care in an emergency.

Check your identity documents

Make sure your passport and/or identity card are valid for the entire duration of your stay.

You can pay for your new identity documents online via MyGuichet.lu.

Check your European Health Insurance Card (EHIC)

The European side of your social security card constitutes the European Health Insurance Card (EHIC).

It is mandatory for receiving healthcare in the following countries:

  • the European Union (EU);
  • the European Economic Area (EEA);
  • Switzerland;
  • Montenegro;
  • Serbia; and
  • the Republic of North Macedonia.

Check its validity date before your departure. If it has expired or is about to expire, it is normally renewed automatically 2 months before its expiry date.

In an emergency or if you apply late, you can receive a temporary replacement certificate valid for 3 months via MyGuichet.lu. The card is free and strictly personal.

Please note: if you are a national of a country that is not an EU Member State, the EHIC does not entitle you to medical care in Denmark, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway and Switzerland.

Declare your stay abroad (optional but recommended)

To ensure you receive the best possible consular assistance in the event of an emergency (accident, need for repatriation, etc.), you can declare your stay abroad via the 'Lëtzebuerger am Ausland' service.

This declaration enables the Luxembourg authorities to locate you and assist you more quickly in the event of an emergency or if you need to be repatriated. This service is available with or without authentication.

Prepare for travel outside the EU/EEA

For countries covered by a bilateral agreement with Luxembourg (e.g. Cape Verde, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Tunisia, Turkey), you must obtain a certificate of entitlement to benefits in kind.

This certificate confirms that you are entitled to necessary medical care during your stay and it can be requested via MyGuichet.lu, with or without authentication.

For countries not covered by a bilateral agreement, no specific document can be issued.

In the event of an accident or unexpected illness abroad

In an EU country, an EEA country, Switzerland, Montenegro, Serbia or North Macedonia

With your EHIC, you are entitled to the same healthcare as residents of the country you are visiting, under the same conditions and at the same rates.

Present your EHIC (or your temporary certificate) to the healthcare provider (doctor, hospital, pharmacy, etc.) to benefit from third-party payment at the rates applicable in the country where you are staying.

If you do not have your EHIC with you or if it is not accepted, you will need to pay the costs upfront and claim a refund on your return. You should therefore ensure you keep all invoices (duly receipted and itemised in French, German or English) for a possible refund.

Special cases

The European Health Insurance Card (EHIC):

  • does not cover pre-scheduled treatments;
  • does not cover non-urgent care or care related to a pre-existing condition (except in medical emergencies).

In the event of a work-related or commuting accident abroad, inform your employer immediately; they must report the accident to the Accident Insurance Association (AAA).

In a country bound by a bilateral agreement with Luxembourg

Present your certificate of entitlement to benefits in kind to the local social security institution to receive direct reimbursement at the rates applicable in the country of stay.

If you do not have your certificate, you will need to pay the costs upfront and claim a refund upon your return. Non-urgent treatment (e.g. visual aids, dental crowns) is not reimbursed.

In a country that is not bound by a bilateral agreement

In these countries, you will always need to pay the costs upfront and claim a refund upon your return to Luxembourg.

On your return, submit the duly receipted invoices to your Luxembourg health insurance fund.

These invoices must be:

  • receipted;
  • itemised in medical terms (not coded);
  • drawn up in French, German or English, or accompanied by a translation into one of these languages.

Reimbursement will be made in accordance with Luxembourg rates and tariffs, provided that the treatment is covered by Luxembourg legislation.

No reimbursement is available for:

  • a simple non-urgent consultation;
  • a consultation relating to a pre-existing condition (except in the case of a medical emergency);
  • childbirth abroad after the 8th month of pregnancy.

Please note that in some countries, healthcare costs can be much higher than in Luxembourg. It is therefore advisable to take out supplementary private insurance.

Scheduled treatment abroad

For planned treatment abroad (hospitalisation, specialist treatment, etc.), prior authorisation from the National Health Fund (CNS) is generally required.

Hospital care or care requiring highly specialised equipment

You must request prior authorisation from the CNS before your departure. The request for authorisation must be submitted by your general practitioner using a specific form.

The CNS may issue:

  • an S2 authorisation (for EU/EEA countries and Switzerland): costs are covered according to the rates of the country of treatment, usually under the third-party payment system (direct billing);
  • an authorisation under Directive 2011/24/EU: you will need to pay the costs upfront and claim a refund based on Luxembourg rates after your return.

If special transport (ambulance, taxi, airplane) is required, your doctor must specify this in the application. A travel allowance may be granted if transport costs are not covered.

Outpatient care (consultations, minor procedures)

Simple medical consultations without specialised equipment do not require prior authorisation in the EU/EEA/Switzerland. You will need to pay the costs upfront and claim a refund upon your return. The refund will be based on Luxembourg rates, and invoices must be receipted and itemised in French, German or English.

Spa treatments abroad

Spa treatments abroad:

  • may be covered if they are authorised in advance by the CNS;
  • must be undertaken at an approved establishment;
  • travel costs are not covered;
  • the application is made using the same form as for hospital care.

Scheduled treatment in a third country

For countries covered by a bilateral agreement, the procedure is the same as for the EU/EEA/Switzerland.

For countries with no bilateral agreement, authorisation may be granted upon a reasoned request from a specialist doctor and a favourable opinion from the Social Security Medical Board.

However, you will need to pay the full costs upfront and then claim a refund, the amount of which is determined by the Medical Review Board, upon your return. If treatment outside Europe is approved, you may be eligible for a special flat-rate travel allowance.

Obtaining medical treatment abroad (scheduled care)

On your return to Luxembourg: claiming reimbursement

For unscheduled treatment

If you have paid the costs upfront (no EHIC presented or country outside the EU/EEA), submit the duly receipted invoices to your health insurance fund.

Invoices must be itemised in medical terms and written in French, German or English.

Reimbursement will be based on the rates of the country of stay (for the EU/EEA) or the Luxembourg rates (for other countries).

If you presented your EHIC, reimbursement is usually paid directly by the health insurance fund of the country of stay.

As a precaution, we advise you to keep your invoices for verification purposes.

For scheduled treatment

If you have benefited from an S2 authorisation, costs are generally covered and settled directly (third-party payment). You only pay the portion you are liable for plus any additional charges.

If you have benefited from an authorisation under Directive 2011/24/EU, you will need to claim reimbursement from your Luxembourg health insurance fund; this reimbursement will be made in accordance with Luxembourg rates, tariffs and conditions.

Deadlines

It is recommended that you submit your claims for reimbursement as soon as possible.

For accidents at work or on the way to or from work, the claim must be sent immediately to the AAA.

Special cases

Students

Resident students who are insured on a personal basis automatically receive a social security card.

For studies abroad in the EU/EEA/Switzerland:

  • present your EHIC to the authority in the host country to be registered for social security;
  • simply presenting your EHIC entitles you to treatment in accordance with the host country’s conditions;
  • for certain medical treatments, a form certifying your entitlement to these treatments may be required (to be requested from your Luxembourg health insurance fund at least 15 days before departure).

For studies outside the EU/EEA, you should check whether the country is covered by a bilateral agreement.

Posted workers

If you are a posted worker abroad, you are entitled to Luxembourg health insurance cover. Check with your employer or your health insurance fund for the specific arrangements.

In the event of a work-related accident abroad, inform your employer immediately; they must report the accident to the AAA.

Cross-border workers

Cross-border workers may use the EHIC for temporary stays abroad. However, certain specific conditions may apply to cross-border co-insured persons.

Useful contacts

  • National Health Fund (CNS)

    Address:
    4, rue Mercier L-2144 Luxembourg
    L-2980 Luxembourg
    Phone:
    (+352) 27 57 1
    working days from 8.00 to 16.00
    Website:
    https://cns.public.lu/

    Contact form

  • National Health Fund (CNS)

    Department Leave for nursing a terminally ill person

    Address:
    4, rue Mercier L-2144 Luxembourg
    L-2979 Luxembourg
    Phone:
    (+352) 27 57 40 56
    Fax:
    (+352) 27 57 40 80

  • National Health Fund (CNS)

    Department National reimbursements

    Address:
    4, rue Mercier L-2144 Luxembourg
    L-2980 Luxembourg
    Phone:
    (+352) 27 57 1
    working days from 8.00 to 16.00
    Fax:
    (+352) 27 57 27 58

  • National Health Fund (CNS)

    Long-term care insurance

    Address:
    4, rue Mercier L-2144 Luxembourg
    B.P. 1023, L-1010 Luxembourg
    Phone:
    (+352) 27 57 44 55
    working days from 8.00 to 16.30
    Fax:
    (+352) 27 57 46 19
    Email address:
    assurancedependance@secu.lu

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  • Joint Social Security Centre (CCSS)

    Address:
    4, rue Mercier L-2144 Luxembourg
    L-2975 Luxembourg
    Phone:
    (+352) 40 14 11
    Website:
    https://ccss.lu/en.html

    Contact form

    The reception desks can only be visited by appointment.

  • Joint Social Security Centre (CCSS)

    Reception desks

    Address:
    4, rue Mercier L-2144 Luxembourg
    Phone:
    (+352) 40 14 11
    Website:
    https://ccss.lu/en.html

    By appointment only:

    Open Closes at 16.00
    Friday:
    8.00 to 16.00
    Saturday:
    Closed
    Sunday:
    Closed
    Monday:
    8.00 to 16.00
    Tuesday:
    8.00 to 16.00
    Wednesday:
    8.00 to 16.00
    Thursday:
    8.00 to 16.00

    Contact form

  • Accident Insurance Association (AAA)

    Address:
    4, rue Mercier L-2144 Luxembourg Luxembourg
    L-2976 Luxembourg
    Phone:
    (+352) 26 19 15 1
    Website:
    http://www.aaa.lu

    Desk opening hours (with or without booking an appointment via MyGuichet.lu):

    Open ⋅ Closes at 12.00
    Friday:
    8.00 to 12.00
    Saturday:
    Closed
    Sunday:
    Closed
    Monday:
    8.00 to 12.00
    Tuesday:
    8.00 to 12.00
    Wednesday:
    8.00 to 12.00
    Thursday:
    8.00 to 12.00

  • Accident Insurance Association (AAA)

    Benefits department

    Address:
    Phone:
    (+352) 261915 2000
    Fax:
    (+352) 49 53 35
    Email address:
    prestations.aaa@secu.lu

    Heures de bureau :

    Open Closes at 11.30
    Friday:
    9.00 to 11.30, 13.30 to 16.00
    Saturday:
    Closed
    Sunday:
    Closed
    Monday:
    9.00 to 11.30, 13.30 to 16.00
    Tuesday:
    9.00 to 11.30, 13.30 to 16.00
    Wednesday:
    9.00 to 11.30, 13.30 to 16.00
    Thursday:
    9.00 to 11.30, 13.30 to 16.00

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