Receiving unscheduled healthcare outside of the EU, the EEA, Switzerland, Montenegro, Serbia or the Republic of North Macedonia
Last update
During a trip abroad, immediate access to healthcare may become necessary.
Coverage differs depending on whether or not the care is provided in a country with which Luxembourg has entered into a bilateral agreement on social security.
Who is concerned
Anyone enrolled for sickness and maternity insurance in Luxembourg who requires urgent medical care while travelling abroad, outside of the EU, th EEA, Switzerland, Montenegro, Serbia or the Republic of North Macedonia.
Prerequisites
The conditions differ depending on the destination country.
For countries outside the European Union (EU), the EEA, Switzerland, Montenegro, Serbia and the Republic of North Macedonia, but which are bound by a bilateral agreement with Luxembourg, the insured is required to submit the appropriate form to the social security institution in the country that they are visiting, certifying that they are entitled to benefits in kind during their stay.
For countries outside the European Union (EU), the EEA, Switzerland, Montenegro, Serbia and the Republic of North Macedonia, that are not bound by bilateral agreements with Luxembourg, no documents can be issued.
How to proceed
Procedures for implementing coverage
The procedures for coverage of care by the competent Luxembourgish health insurance fund depend on the country where the care was provided and on whether or not there is a bilateral agreement between Luxembourg and that country.
Generally, an insured may only benefit from coverage if they go to a care provider or supplier that is approved by the health insurance in the country they are visiting. It is thus important to get information about the health system of the destination country in order to benefit from good medical coverage.
Unforeseen healthcare in a country that is bound by a bilateral agreement with Luxembourg
Prior authorisation
For countries bound by a bilateral agreement with Luxembourg, the insured is required to submit a certificate to the social security institution in the destination country. This certificate certifies that the insured is entitled to benefits in kind during their stay.
The certificate can be requested via MyGuichet.lu. This online procedure can be carried out with or without authentication using a LuxTrust product or an electronic identity card (eID).
The request can also be submitted via the MyGuichet.lu mobile app. In order to submit the request using the mobile application, the insured person must:
Reimbursement of costs incurred
The insured must pay healthcare fees in advance and may request reimbursement directly from the health insurance fund in the country where they are staying. Reimbursements will be paid at the rates and tariffs that apply in that country.
Non-urgent, but planned outpatient health care services (e.g.: visual aids, dental crowns or dentures) are not reimbursed.
Reimbursement if the form is forgotten or refused
The insured must pay the costs of the medical care they received in advance, and request reimbursement from their competent fund in Luxembourg upon their return.
To do so, they will need to produce the receipted bills, itemising the delivered care/service (in medical terms and not as codes) in English, French or German.
The competent health insurance fund will determine the pricing for the bills with the health insurance fund in the destination country, and the insured individual will be reimbursed at the rates and tariffs in force in that country. Healthcare services delivered by non-contract providers, or services not provided for in the country that the insured individual visited, will not be reimbursed.
Unforeseen healthcare in a country that is not bound by a bilateral agreement with Luxembourg
Healthcare bills from these countries are reimbursed by a Luxembourgish health insurance fund at Luxembourgish rates and tariffs, on the condition that the healthcare received is provided for by Luxembourgish legislation.
Bills submitted to the competent health insurance fund for reimbursement must:
- have already been paid;
- itemise the delivered healthcare in medical terms and not as codes;
- be written in English, French or German, or accompanied by a translation into one of these languages.
Since medical and hospital costs may differ from one country to another, and may even be substantially higher than in Luxembourg, it may be appropriate to take out additional private insurance.
Basic non-urgent visits with a general practitioner, or visits in connection with an illness that existed before the trip abroad, will not be reimbursed, except in the case of medical emergencies. This is also valid for births occurring abroad after the 8th month of pregnancy.
Online services and forms
Who to contact
-
National Health Fund (CNS) National Reimbursements
- Address:
-
4, rue Mercier
L-2144
Luxembourg
Luxembourg
L-2980 Luxembourg
- Phone:
- (+352) 27 57 1
- Fax:
- (+352) 27 57 27 58
- Website:
- http://www.cns.lu/en
-
National Health Fund (CNS) International Reimbursements
- Address:
-
4, rue Mercier
L-2144
Luxembourg
Luxembourg
L-2980 Luxembourg
- Phone:
- (+352) 27 57 1
- Fax:
- (+352) 27 57 27 58
- Website:
- http://www.cns.lu/en
-
Health Insurance Funds for the Public Sector and Related Sectors
- Address:
- Luxembourg
-
Health Insurance Funds for the Public Sector and Related Sectors Health Insurance Fund for Communal Civil Servants and Employees
- Address:
-
20, avenue Emile Reuter
B.P. 328 L-2013
- Phone:
- (+352) 45 05 15
- Fax:
- (+352) 45 02 01 222
- Website:
- https://cmfec.public.lu/fr.html
-
Health Insurance Funds for the Public Sector and Related Sectors Health Insurance Fund for Civil Servants and Public Employees
- Address:
- 32, avenue Marie-Thérèse L-2132 Luxembourg
- Phone:
- (+352) 45 16 81
- Fax:
- (+352) 45 67 50
- Website:
- https://cmfep.public.lu/en.html
-
Health Insurance Funds for the Public Sector and Related Sectors CFL Health Insurance Fund
- Address:
- 2B, rue de la Paix L-2312 Luxembourg
- Phone:
- (+352) 49 90 3416
- Fax:
- (+352) 49 90 4501
- Email address:
- emcfl@secu.lu
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-
Joint Social Security Centre (CCSS)
- Address:
-
4, rue Mercier
L-2144
Luxembourg
Luxembourg
L-2975 Luxembourg
- Phone:
- (+352) 40 14 11
- Email address:
- ccss@secu.lu
- Website:
- https://ccss.public.lu/en.html
-
Joint Social Security Centre (CCSS) Reception desks
- Address:
- 4, rue Mercier L-2144 Luxembourg
- Phone:
- (+352) 40 14 11
- Email address:
- ccss@secu.lu
- Website:
- https://ccss.public.lu/en.html
Open Ferme à 16h00
- Thursday:
- 8h00 à 16h00
- Friday:
- 8h00 à 16h00
- Saturday:
- Closed
- Sunday:
- Closed
- Monday:
- 8h00 à 16h00
- Tuesday:
- 8h00 à 16h00
- Wednesday:
- 8h00 à 16h00
Related procedures and links
Procedures
Links
Further information
-
Treatment abroad
on the website of the National Health Fund (CNS)
-
Health (unplanned healthcare, planned medical treatment abroad etc.)
on Your Europe
Legal references
-
Règlement CE N°883/2004 du Parlement européen et du Conseil du 29 avril 2004
portant sur la coordination des systèmes de sécurité sociale
-
Règlement CE N°987/2009 du Parlement européen et du Conseil du 16 septembre 2009
fixant les modalités d’application du règlement (CE) no 883/2004 portant sur la coordination des systèmes de sécurité sociale
-
Règlement (CE) 988/2009 du Parlement européen et du Conseil du 16 septembre 2009
modifiant le règlement (CE) 883/2004 portant sur la coordination des systèmes de sécurité sociale, et déterminant le contenu de ses annexes
- Code de la sécurité sociale
- Statuts de la Caisse nationale de santé (CNS)
