Medicine in Luxembourg
The Principality of Luxembourg is a small state with a developed healthcare system: despite the widespread unhealthy habits and alcohol consumption, the average life expectancy for men reaches 80 years, for women - 84 years. Public medicine in Luxembourg is based on mutual medical and surgical insurance (CMCM) and funded by the National Health Fund (CMS). At the same time, the cost of medical care in the country is lower than the European average - 5.5-7% of GDP is allocated for medicine, which is up to 85% of the total CMS budget.
The healthcare system in Luxembourg
Primary health care in Luxembourg is provided by private medical practices that have entered into an agreement with CMS; the secondary link is represented by public hospitals and specialized clinics. Compulsory health insurance covers 80-100% of the cost of primary health care and 40 to 80% of the cost of secondary care, specialized and high-tech treatment.
CMS contributions are paid by all permanent residents of the country, including migrants with permanent residence; pensioners, the unemployed and the disabled pay contributions from pensions and benefits; the annual amount of payments cannot exceed 5% of income. Non-working family members and children of payers can receive health care in Luxembourg on a common card; co-insurance is also available for parents and children over 30 who are pursuing higher education. The health insurance system in Luxembourg covers a wide range of medical services, which are provided on a first-come, first-served basis:
- reception of a therapist and a specialist;
- professional examinations, screenings and vaccinations;
- analyzes and functional studies;
- correction of vision and hearing;
- contraception, pregnancy management and childbirth;
- emergency and emergency care;
- prescription drugs and homeopathy;
- basic dental treatment;
- hospital treatment, surgeries and transplants;
- rehabilitation after injury and serious illness;
- psychotherapy and psychiatric care.
In addition to CMS policies, up to 65% of the population uses VHI policies that pay for extraordinary doctor's appointments, premium fillings, treatment abroad and accommodation in comfortable single rooms. Extended care is available through the Mutuelles and non-profit institutions; some screenings are funded by government programs.
Doctors in Luxembourg do not accept insurance guarantees for payment - you should pay for the consultation on the spot, and then send the invoice to CMS or to the insurance company. Foreigners with temporary visas are treated under commercial insurance; EHIC cards and CHI cards are also accepted from the countries of the bilateral agreement - Turkey, Tunisia, Cape Verde, Morocco, Serbia, Montenegro, Bosnia and Herzegovina.
Ambulance in Luxembourg
Emergency and ambulance care in Luxembourg is provided free of charge in medical institutions and on the spot, regardless of the patient's insurance status. You can call an ambulance by calling 112, but the call must be motivated by danger to life; if the condition is not critical, they turn to a therapist or call a doctor at home. During non-working hours, emergency medical care is provided in emergency medical centers (maison medicinale) and in the on-call hospital. The duty schedule of hospitals is published in the press, on the Doctena and Luxweb.today websites, posted in pharmacies and private practices.
How to make an appointment with a doctor in Luxembourg
When applying for a CMS policy in the social insurance service, the patient chooses a personal therapist who conducts an initial appointment, issues certificates, sends them to narrow specialists, to a hospital and for examinations. Preliminary appointment with a doctor in Luxembourg is not required - you can take a ticket from the administrator and wait for a consultation in turn, but sometimes the wait is delayed for 2-3 hours. Therefore, it is better to make an appointment with a doctor in Luxembourg by phone or online on the praxis website or through the Doctena portal.
Waiting time for a doctor's appointment/consultation in Luxembourg
The queues for therapists are small - a doctor's consultation in Luxembourg is provided within a few days after the appointment; the appointment of a CMS specialist is expected for several weeks and months, while the patient chooses the doctor himself. The Medecins Specialistes website will help you find a specialist and make an appointment with a doctor in Luxembourg; it is also possible to get an appointment without a queue and a referral; but the visit is paid independently or by VHI. In simple cases, an online consultation on the VideoDoc portal is sufficient - it is cheaper and faster than in-person medical care.
The cost of a consultation and appointment with a doctor in Luxembourg
Medical services without insurance are expensive: the average price of a doctor's appointment in Luxembourg varies between 50-100 EUR; hospital stay is paid at a rate of 22 EUR. For patients insured under CMS, there is a fixed cost for a doctor's consultation in Luxembourg; The amount of co-payments is calculated individually depending on age, income, occupation and health status. Dental treatment costs are reimbursed according to quotas; complex surgeries and dentures are paid for through the Surgical Fund.
Medical prescriptions in Luxembourg
The sale of medicines is strictly regulated - prescriptions are issued in digital form and are tied to the CMS policy; e-prescriptions in pharmacies in Luxembourg are checked by ID-cards. State insurance refunds up to 80% of the cost of prescription drugs and up to 40% of the cost of over-the-counter medicines; Payouts for commercial policies depend on the insurance plan. When submitting an application, copies of the appointments must be sent to the insurer; you can get a prescription for a medicine in Luxembourg from a general practitioner, specialized doctor or an accredited telemedicine consultant on the VideoDoc website.
.png.webp)
