Health insurance, social security and supplementary health insurance

Caisses Maladie Complémentaires Santé Luxembourg

All Luxembourg residents are required to have health insurance. To do so, they must register with the Centre Commun de la Sécurité Sociale. This will enable them to benefit from the services of the Caisse Nationale de Santé or the Caisse de Santé Publique.

In addition, if they so wish, they can take out supplementary health insurance to optimize their healthcare cover.

General principles of health insurance

Compulsory health insurance in Luxembourg

All residents and workers in Luxembourg are required to take out compulsory health insurance. Compulsory health insurance covers Luxembourg citizens, residents, cross-border workers and holders of legal residence permits. Coverage extends to adults and children.

Guaranteed access to quality health care and services

Health insurance is compulsory in Luxembourg. It ensures that all citizens have access to the necessary healthcare services. The Luxembourg system thus promotes equitable access to healthcare. It also helps to maintain the country's health services at a high level.

Health insurance providers

In Luxembourg, individuals can choose from a number of approved health insurance providers. These providers must comply with the regulations and guidelines of the CCSS - Centre Commun de la Sécurité Sociale and the CNS - Caisse Nationale de Santé.

Contributory financing of health insurance

Several contributors finance compulsory health insurance in Luxembourg. Individuals, employers and the government share the financing.

Employees and employers contribute a percentage of the individual's income, subject to certain thresholds. At the same time, the government provides financial subsidies to keep insurance affordable for low-income individuals and families.

Health coverage and services

Health insurance covers a wide range of healthcare services. Sickness and healthcare cover includes general medical consultations, specialist visits, hospitalization, surgery, medicines, diagnostic tests and preventive care.

Health coverage also extends to maternity care, mental health services and rehabilitation.

Dental care, although not fully covered, is partially reimbursed. The same applies to hearing and visual prostheses.

Public healthcare organizations in Luxembourg

CCSS - Centre Commun de la Sécurité Sociale (Social Security Common Center)

In Luxembourg, the compulsory health insurance system is overseen by the CCSS or Centre Commun de la Sécurité Sociale. The CCSS is the central body. It is responsible for managing and regulating healthcare coverage. 

CCSS organization and missions

The CCSS or Centre Commun de la Sécurité Sociale in Luxembourg is a public body. It is responsible for the affiliation of insured persons. It collects, organizes and processes data and contributions on behalf of various social security institutions, including :

  • Caisse Nationale de Santé (CNS) for private-sector employees,
  • public sector sickness funds: Caisse de maladie des fonctionnaires et employés publics (CMFEP), Caisse de maladie des fonctionnaires et employés communaux (CMFEC) and Entraide médicale de la société nationale des chemins de fer luxembourgeois,
  • Employers' mutual insurance, particularly for self-employed workers
  • Accident Insurance Association,
  • the National Pension Insurance Fund and the Compensation Fund,
  • the Caisse pour l'avenir des enfants,
  • Employment Administration.

Prior registration required with the CCSS

In Luxembourg, anyone engaged in paid employment must be registered with the Centre Commun de la Sécurité Sociale (CCSS).

The declaration of the employee to the CCSS must be made by the employer on behalf of the employee. The CCSS then registers the employee with the relevant health insurance fund.

The spouse or partner (if not the principal insured) and children are automatically insured with the principal insured. They are called "co-insureds". Please note that the CCSS must receive all the necessary documents for the affiliation of the principal insured (marriage contract, family record book, etc.). You can also send your information via the CNS website.

For their part, self-employed workers must take the necessary steps to register with the CCSS as soon as they are established. Self-employed workers can join the CSS directly via MyGuichet.

Following affiliation with the CCSS, the citizen and his co-insureds are assigned a 13-digit national registration number.

Are you hiring a nanny or au pair to look after your children ? You must declare her to the CCSS.

CCSS insurance contributions

Registration with the CCSS entitles you to social security, health and long-term care insurance, and old-age pensions. You'll also be reimbursed for medication and medical expenses, and receive financial assistance in the event of sickness or maternity leave.

Insurance contributions will be deducted directly from the gross salary by the employer. Find out more about gross/net salaries and how to calculate your net salary.

CCSS administrative procedures

There are several steps you can take with the CCSS, including :

  • Ordering a Social Security card
  • Order certificates of affiliation to the Luxembourg CSS. This request can also be made via Myguichet.lu for immediate receipt of the document in .pdf format.
  • Change of address declaration
  • ...

The CCSS is open by appointment for all inquiries and personal information. Appointments can be requested via Myguichet .

Find out more about the Centre Commun de la Sécurité Sociale.

CNS - Caisse Nationale de Santé or D'Gesondheetskeess

The Caisse Nationale de Santé is the Luxembourg health organization in charge of all health-related matters for insured persons in the private sector in Luxembourg (and their dependents).

This concerns prevention, reimbursement of health expenses, and health insurance in the event of illness, accident, maternity, dependency or end of life.

CNS registration and social security contributions

All employees in the private sector are required to register with the CNS. As soon as a new employee is hired, the employer is responsible for registering him or her with the CNS, via the CCSS.

Employees pay monthly social security contributions on their wages. His employer will pay him a net salary, after deduction of employee contributions.

Disability compensation: where to send work stoppage and sick leave forms

In the event of sick leave, resident or cross-border employees must send the CNS the original copy (section 1) of the sick leave prescribed by the doctor. See our page on sick leave in Luxembourg.

Sick leave must be sent within 3 days to the following address:

The CNS will then be able to pay any compensation due to the employee's inability to work. Employers declare their employees' work incapacity and hours of absence on a monthly basis.

For special cases of maternity and parental leave, click here.

Medical expenses: where to send CNS claims for reimbursement

The CNS is also responsible for reimbursing drugs and medical expenses incurred by the insured under certain conditions.

Requests for reimbursement must be sent in an unstamped envelope to the address below. You are responsible for the cost of registered post. See reimbursement of medical expenses.

The employee must send the second part of his sick leave to his employer, within a maximum of 3 days.

Find out more about the Caisse Nationale de Santé

CMFEP - Caisse maladie des fonctionnaires et employés publics (Health fund for civil servants and public employees)

CMFEP is the health insurance fund for civil servants and public employees.

Further information on social security institutions

For all your questions about social security institutions in Luxembourg (health insurance, accident, pension, dependency, family benefits, etc.) visit the Luxembourg government website www.secu.lu.

Supplementary health insurance in Luxembourg

General principle of supplementary health insurance

While compulsory health insurance covers essential health services, individuals can take out supplementary insurance to provide additional coverage for health-related risks. Supplementary insurance is not compulsory.

Supplementary insurance covers certain medical and health expenses not reimbursed by public bodies. For example, private hospital rooms and alternative medicine are reimbursed.

Reimbursement rates may also be higher for certain healthcare services. Supplementary insurances can reimburse up to 100% for certain medical services not covered by the CNS.

How does supplementary health insurance work?

The various insurance companies operating in Luxembourg all offer supplementary health insurance. Find out more about their coverage, rates and benefits.

Please note that there is often a 3-month waiting period between the signing of the contract and coverage of health expenses. You will probably also be asked to complete a questionnaire on your state of health and that of your co-insureds. Certain expenses will clearly be excluded from reimbursement, such as orthodontic costs already incurred.

When you apply for reimbursement, the insurer assesses your claim, after deducting any reimbursements already made by public health insurance funds. The insurer will then reimburse a portion of the costs based on the agreed coverage rates. Reimbursement rates vary according to the service and type of insurance cover chosen when the contract is signed.

Identification of insured persons in Luxembourg

Personal social security card

Once you have registered with your health insurance fund, you will receive a national health insurance card. The national insurance card establishes that you are affiliated to the health insurance scheme.

The social security card is personal.

It identifies you in your dealings with social security institutions and healthcare providers(doctors, hospitals, pharmacists, etc.) in the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg. You'll need to present it at every appointment.

13-digit Luxembourg registration number

The social insurance card shows the insured person's surname, first name and 13-digit registration number. The 13-digit matricule number is Luxembourg's personal and individual national identifier. You will be asked for this number in all your dealings with the authorities, schools, etc.

European insurance card

If you regularly travel within Europe, you can apply for a European health insurance card. This card has two sides. One side is valid in Luxembourg, the other in the countries of the European Union and the European Economic Area.

The European face allows direct access to approved healthcare providers in the countries of the European Union and the European Economic Area. If health care becomes necessary during a temporary stay in another member state, the card allows :

  • the provision of health benefits in accordance with the laws and procedures of the country where you are temporarily staying,
  • the request for reimbursement to the country of stay according to the legislation it applies, or to Luxembourg according to Luxembourg tariffs.

The European Health Insurance Card has an expiry date. It can be renewed on request from the CCSS via this link.

Download the "European Health Insurance Card" application onto your smartphone.

Available in 25 languages, the "European Health Insurance Card" App provides information on how to use the European Health Insurance Card in EU member states. You'll find general information about the card, as well as emergency numbers and the service to contact if your card is lost. You can also find out how to obtain reimbursement, and what treatments and costs are covered.

See our page dedicated to the health of cross-border workers in Luxembourg for registration procedures and specific insurance benefits.

New to Luxembourg? Find out all you need to know about insurance here.

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