Voluntary affiliation with the health insurance scheme entitles the insured to all the benefits covered by the National Health Fund (Caisse nationale de santé - CNS) or one of the other Luxembourg health funds (except for cash benefits and maternity leave) as well as long-term care insurance benefits.
There are 2 types of voluntary health insurance:
- voluntary continued health insurance;
- voluntary optional health insurance.
Persons concerned
A person who has no other access to health insurance.
Prerequisites
Voluntary continued health insurance
To be admitted to voluntary continued health insurance, the applicant:
- must be aged 18 or over;
- must not be covered by compulsory health insurance or as a co-insured (in Luxembourg, or in a country in the European Union (EU), the European Economic Area (EEA) or Switzerland, or in a third country, or under an international regime);
- must have been covered by a compulsory scheme or as a co-insured for an uninterrupted period of 6 months before losing that coverage;
- must be resident in Luxembourg or in a country in the EU, the EEA or Switzerland;
- must not have any outstanding voluntary insurance contributions owing to the Social Security Centre (Centre commun de la sécurité sociale - CCSS);
- must send their application for admission to the CCSS within 3 months of the aforementioned coverage ending.
Voluntary optional health insurance
To be admitted to voluntary optional health insurance, the applicant:
- must be aged 18 or over;
- must not have access to health insurance on any other basis;
- must be resident in Luxembourg or in a country in the EU, the EEA or Switzerland;
- must not have any outstanding voluntary insurance contributions owing to the CCSS.
How to proceed
Applying for voluntary continued health insurance affiliation
A person who loses their health cover can apply to continue their health insurance affiliation by sending the 'Application for voluntary health insurance' form to the CCSS.
If the applicant was insured in a country other than Luxembourg when they lost their cover, they must enclose an affiliation certificate (S041 or co-insurance certificate) issued by the last social security institution with which they were insured.
Once the application has been processed, the applicant is notified of its acceptance or refusal in a letter sent to their own address or, where applicable, to their authorised representative's address.
Voluntary continued health insurance contributions are payable from the 1st day of the 1st month after the entitlement to healthcare benefits has come to an end.
Useful tips
- The "date of termination of insurance" to be indicated on the application form must correspond to the actual date of exit of the mandatory affiliation.
- If the CCSS receives the application later than three months after the termination of insurance, and if all conditions are met, the application is automatically considered an application for optional health insurance.
- If a third party pays the social contributions, the latter must be indicated on the application form as an authorised representative.
- If a person does not have the necessary means to pay for social security, she can contact the social office of their municipality for possible assistance.
- Maintenance of entitlement
After disaffiliation, entitlement to health care benefits is in principle maintained for the current month and the following three months, provided that the person was insured for an uninterrupted period of six months before the disaffiliation.
Applying for voluntary optional health insurance affiliation
A person who has no access to health insurance on any other basis can join the optional health insurance scheme by sending the 'Application for voluntary health insurance' form to the CCSS.
If the applicant was insured in a country other than Luxembourg when they lost their cover, they must enclose an affiliation certificate (S041 or co-insurance certificate) issued by the last social security institution with which they were insured.
A person who has never been affiliated with a Luxembourg or foreign health insurance scheme must enclose a residence certificate or proof of accommodation.
Once the application has been processed, the applicant is notified of its acceptance or refusal in a letter sent to their own address or, where applicable, to their authorised representative's address.
Contributions for health insurance are due as soon as the application is submitted. However, no healthcare expenses are reimbursed during the first 3 months (contribution period).
The National Health Fund (Caisse nationale de santé - CNS) and any other health fund will only cover expenses incurred or reimbursement claims made after the 3-month contribution period.
Useful tips
- If the spouse or partner has health insurance, one must contact the competent authority first in order to request co-insurance.
- The "date of termination of insurance" to be indicated on the application form must correspond to the actual date of exit of the mandatory affiliation.
- If a third party pays the social contributions, the latter must be indicated on the application form as an authorised representative.
- If a person does not have the necessary means to pay for social security, she can contact the social office of their municipality for possible assistance.
Paying voluntary health insurance contributions
Contributions are calculated on the basis of the minimum social wage, which is EUR 2.703,74, with a current contribution rate of 5,60 %.
The current monthly contribution for voluntary health insurance is EUR 151,41.
Contributions are payable by the insured person or, where applicable, by the designated authorised representative.
Payment of contributions by direct debit can be requested by sending the "Mandat de domiciliation" form to the CCSS.
In the case of continued health insurance, health insurance contributions are only due after the end of the period of continued entitlement to healthcare benefits.
For optional health insurance, contributions are due from the date of submission of the application for affiliation to the CCSS.
Demande d'admission à l'assurance maladie volontaire
Antrag auf freiwillige Krankenversicherung