Studying abroad

If I am a student insured in Luxembourg and studying abroad, whether in another European country or outside the European Union, my health insurance procedures in my country of study may vary.

Here are some important points to consider.

Everything I need to know

Which fund am I affiliated to?

If I live in Luxembourg and am enrolled at a university abroad, I must be affiliated to a Luxembourg health insurance fund to obtain reimbursement for my healthcare in the country of study and in Luxembourg:

  • Either as a co-insured of one of my parents or my spouse (principal insured), or
  • On a personal basis.

If I am co-insured, my affiliation fund is that of the principal insured, i.e. one of the following four:

  • Caisse nationale de santé (CNS): for insured persons in the private sector (salaried and non-salaried employees such as the self-employed) and manual workers employed by the State.
  • Caisse de maladie des fonctionnaires et employés publics (CMFEP), health insurance fund for civil servants and public employees working for the State.
  • Caisse de maladie des fonctionnaires et employés communaux (CMFEC), health insurance fund for civil servants and employees working for communes.
  • Entraide médicale de la CFL (EMCFL), health insurance fund for employees of the CFL.

Good to know

Students who are affiliated on a personal basis are covered by the Caisse nationale de santé (CNS). However, the procedures for personal affiliation are carried out by the Centre commun de la sécurité sociale (Joint Social Security Centre).
To become co-insured, I should contact the health insurance fund to which the main insured person belongs.

How will my healthcare abroad be covered?

As far as my health insurance fund in Luxembourg is concerned, my stay abroad to study is considered a temporary stay.

To avoid any unpleasant surprises, I should contact the social security institution in the country where I will be studying as soon as possible to find out how I will be reimbursed and covered for healthcare in that country.

The general terms and conditions governing the reimbursement of healthcare costs may vary depending on the country of stay/study.

I'm going to study in a country of the European Union, Norway, Iceland, Lichtenstein or Switzerland

My healthcare costs will be covered on presentation of my European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) in a country of the European Union, Norway, Iceland, Liechtenstein or Switzerland.

Precautions before leaving
  • Before I leave, I should check that my European Health Insurance Card is valid. If necessary, I should request a provisional replacement certificate from my health insurance fund.
  • In principle, my medical expenses will be covered on presentation of the European Health Insurance Card. To be on the safe side, I should register with the local social security institution.

If, for any reason, my registration cannot be processed, my medical expenses will still be covered on the basis of the European Health Insurance Card, in accordance with the legal provisions and rates applied locally.

How do I use my European Health Insurance Card (EHIC)?

My European Health Insurance Card entitles me to the medical care I need in the country where I am studying, so that I can continue my stay in the best possible conditions.

However, I can only present it to health care providers approved by the country's social security system.

However, if the treatment is administered by a non-approved provider, I may be reimbursed under the conditions and at the rates of my Luxembourg health insurance fund.

  • To simplify the reimbursement of my treatment, I should ask the local health insurance fund for a list of approved service providers.

What should I do if my EHIC is refused or if I forget it?

In such cases, I must cover the costs of my medical treatment upfront and then request reimbursement:

  • Through the local health insurance fund: Reimbursement will be made based on the rates and tariffs of the country where I received treatment.
  • Through my Luxembourg health insurance fund: They will contact the health insurance fund of the country where I was treated to determine the reimbursement amount. Once a reply is received, they will reimburse me according to the rates and tariffs of the country of treatment. However, if I request it, I can opt to be reimbursed at Luxembourg rates instead.

Good to know

Any service that is not refundable in Luxembourg remains non-refundable if it is provided in another European Union Member State. For example, orthodontic treatment for adults, osteopathy, alternative medicine, etc.

In order for certain treatments (e.g. physiotherapy) to be reimbursed, prior authorisation/validation must be sought and a certificate of coverage issued by the CNS.

I'm going to study in a country that has a bilateral agreement with Luxembourg

The following countries have signed bilateral agreements with Luxembourg: Bosnia-Herzegovina, Cape Verde, Macedonia, Morocco, Montenegro, Quebec, Serbia, Tunisia and Turkey.

What formalities do I need to complete to have my healthcare covered?

To receive healthcare under the same conditions as residents, I must present a certificate of entitlement to benefits in kind to the social security institution in my country of residence, unless I am staying in Macedonia, Montenegro or Serbia, where the European Health Insurance Card is accepted.

  • This certificate should be requested from my health insurance fund at least 15 days before my departure.

Please note! The certificate of entitlement to benefits in kind is not accepted by private-sector healthcare providers. I will therefore have to pay their invoice and claim reimbursement from my Luxembourg health insurance fund.

Links to the application form for a certificate of entitlement to benefits in kind for my country of destination or, if necessary, to order a European Health Insurance Card:

Once this formality has been completed, I can submit my invoices directly to the local health insurance fund, which will then reimburse them at the rates and tariffs applied locally.

I can also send my invoices to my Luxembourg health insurance fund, for reimbursement under Luxembourg conditions, rates and tariffs.

I'm going to study in a country that does not have an agreement with Luxembourg
What are the formalities for reimbursement of my healthcare costs?

I send my healthcare invoices to my Luxembourg health insurance fund. They will be reimbursed according to Luxembourg rates and tariffs, provided that the tariffs applied in Luxembourg cover the situation in question.

Once I'm in my country of study, I contact the country's social security bodies to find out how the health system works, how care is provided and how much it costs, etc.

Careful! In order to be reimbursed, I must ensure that my invoices are:

  • Paid and receipted;
  • Detailed in medical terms, not coded;
  • Written in or translated into English, French or German.

Good to know: some medical and hospital services can be substantially more expensive abroad than in Luxembourg, and the CNS reimbursement significantly lower than the costs incurred. Supplementary insurance from a specialist insurer may therefore be very useful if you are staying in a country outside the European Economic Area or Switzerland.

I'm going to study in the UK

From 1st January 2021, although the United Kingdom is no longer part of the European Union, a trade and cooperation agreement allows the continued use of the European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) within its territory.

This means that, as a student insured in Luxembourg, I can use my EHIC in the UK for medically necessary treatment during a temporary stay.

However, pre-planned outpatient treatments, such as the prescription and supply of glasses, the fitting of crowns or dentures, or medical consultations without a diagnosis, are not reimbursable.

Important: Luxembourg nationals pursuing studies in the United Kingdom must obtain a residence permit. For further information, I visit the UK government website.

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