Practical information for patients
When to consult a physiotherapist?
The physiotherapist's areas of expertise are very broad:
- Back problems: lumbago, sciatica, herniated disc, discopathies...
- Posture and maintenance issues: scoliosis, hyperkyphosis, hyperlordosis...
- Headaches, migraines
- Tendinitis, epicondylitis...
- Arthrosis, joint stiffness and pain...
- Sprain, fracture...
- Domestic, work, or sports accidents
- Muscular lesions: contusion, elongation, muscle strain...
- Sequels of Cerebral Vascular Accident, paralyses...
- Neurodegenerative diseases: multiple sclerosis, Parkinson's...
- Urogynecological problems: urinary incontinence,
- Child's motor development delay
- Vestibular balance disorders, vertigo...
- Respiratory disorders: dyspnea, asthma, chronic bronchitis, bronchiolitis...
- ... non-exhaustive list
You must have a medical prescription issued by a general practitioner or specialist to benefit from reimbursement from the CNS or your private health insurance.
Physiotherapist's Rights and Obligations
(ALK-CNS agreement of 05/06/2019)
Quality of Services
The services provided by the physiotherapist at the expense of the health-maternity insurance must be carried out in compliance with the following quality standards:
- during a session, the physiotherapist treats only one person. Parallel treatments of several people and group treatments are not covered by the health-maternity insurance.
- the minimum duration of a session is 20 minutes.
Compliance with the Nomenclature
The physiotherapist is prohibited from charging the health-maternity insurance for:
- services of purely aesthetic or comfort nature
- individual hygiene services such as maintenance gymnastics, fitness, sauna
- services of accompaniment or preparation for any sporting activity
- any other services not listed in the nomenclature of professional acts
Billing Procedures
- the physiotherapist informs the protected person about the cost of the services and the part that is their personal responsibility
- in general, fees are paid to the physiotherapist by the protected person upon presentation of a fee statement
- by exception, services are directly covered by the CNS in the following cases:
- at the request of the protected person (except when they have personally requested their coverage title from the CNS)
- services provided within the competence of the Accident Insurance Association
- the assessments provided for in the nomenclature of acts and services of masseurs-physiotherapists.
Display
In addition to the information above, a photo of each collaborator with their name and function in the office must be displayed in a visible place for all patients within the office.
Understanding the Physiotherapy Prescription
To be eligible for reimbursement from the National Health Fund or your private insurance, all physiotherapy acts must be prescribed by a doctor.
The prescription can be issued by any general practitioner or specialist practicing in the Grand Duchy using the appropriate form.
Foreign prescriptions are tolerated as long as they are written in one of the following languages: French, German or English.
Here is the approved form for a physiotherapy prescription: standardized prescription (version of 01/06/2025)
ATTENTION: the CNS is currently testing a fully digitalized physiotherapy prescription. The goal is to no longer need to print prescriptions and to facilitate the exchange of information via computer. Some doctors are already using it to test the system before its official implementation: digital prescription (version of 01/07/2025)
Common pathology:
Most treatments fall under "common pathology", such as back problems, sports injuries, various and varied pains, etc...
In this case, the doctor can only prescribe a maximum of 8 sessions per prescription (24 sessions if it is lymphatic drainage).
The treatment can be carried out within a maximum period of 3 months.
The CNS reimbursement will be 100% until the age of 18 and then 70% beyond this age.
Severe pathology:
A list of 17 "severe pathologies" is indicated on the back of the prescription. If your situation requires it, the doctor can then prescribe this type of treatment.
In this case, the doctor can prescribe up to a maximum of 64 sessions.
The treatment can be carried out within a period of 1 year from the date of the prescription.
The CNS reimbursement is systematically 100%.
Post-surgical rehabilitation:
This type of prescription is issued after surgery of the musculoskeletal system within a maximum period of 4 months after the surgical intervention.
You can obtain 2 consecutive prescriptions of a maximum of 16 sessions each.
The treatment can be carried out within a period of 4 months from the date of the prescription.
The CNS reimbursement is systematically 100%.
What are the rates charged?
In Luxembourg, all physiotherapists are mandatory affiliated with the CNS. Therefore, the rates are identical in all private practices in the country.
The rates for medical and paramedical consultations are indexed to the cost of living, so they are subject to change in case of a wage index trigger in the Grand Duchy.
Depending on the type of treatment or equipment used, the physiotherapist may decide to charge an additional fee to the conventional rate of the session. They must then inform you in advance. This additional fee will not be reimbursed by the CNS.
Complete document available here : Nomenclature of acts and services of physiotherapists - 01/05/2025
Travel expenses
The physiotherapist's travel expenses may be covered as a lump sum provided that:
- the doctor indicates on the prescription that it is medically necessary for the physiotherapist to travel to the insured's home to provide the care.
- the travel takes place within the territory of Luxembourg. Travel beyond the border is not covered.
These conditions met, the travel lump sum is covered at the same rate as that applied to the act performed during the travel.
Note, if the patient resides in a continuous care facility, intermittent stay or semi-stationary center (senior residences, retirement homes, CIPA...), the travel expenses will not be reimbursed by the CNS.
I already have a physiotherapy prescription
Prescription validation
To be entitled to a refund from the CNS, your prescription must be registered within a maximum period of 31 days.
Generally, the insured gives the prescription to their physiotherapist during their first session, who then takes care of the necessary administrative procedures. The patient can then benefit from third-party payment.
If the patient requests the validation of their prescription from the CNS themselves, third-party payment cannot apply and the patient will be forced to pay the total amount of the fees upfront before they can claim a refund from the health insurance.
Coverage title
The validation consists of the issuance of a coverage title by the CNS.
This title indicates the number of sessions granted, the reimbursement rate, and the expiration date of the sessions.
Payment method: third-party payment system
Third-party payment will only apply if the prescription has been registered with the CNS by your physiotherapist.
At the end of the treatment, the physiotherapist returns the prescription to the insured and gives them a fee statement on which the part to be paid by the insured and the part to be paid by the CNS are clearly indicated.
Please note that for cross-border workers, the coverage of care received in the country of residence is the responsibility of their local fund.
Payment method: advance of fees by the insured
If the patient has requested the validation of their prescription from the CNS themselves, third-party payment will not apply.
In this case, the physiotherapist presents a bill to the patient at the end of the treatment, showing the total amount to be paid. After payment, the insured requests a refund of the part to be paid by them from their competent fund (CNS or private fund).
To be able to benefit from the reimbursement of a physiotherapy bill, the bill must:
- bear the insured's matriculation number, first and last name, and the coverage title number
- be duly paid (or provide a copy of the debit advice available from your e-banking)
- be accompanied by the medical prescription
Inform the physiotherapist of affiliation other than CNS (European Communities fund, BEI, international private insurance...)
Keep the original medical prescription.
Contact your insurance/mutual to find out about the necessary procedures to get reimbursed.
- Prescription modalities
- Reimbursement rate
- Invoices and supporting documents
- Prior authorization if necessary
- Execution deadline
- Maximum number of sessions
- Etc.
The physiotherapist presents a bill at the end of the treatment showing the total amount to be paid. After payment, the insured requests a refund of the part to be paid by them from their competent fund, according to the respective coverage rate.
I do not have a medical prescription for physiotherapy
All specialists or general practitioners in the Grand Duchy can prescribe physiotherapy sessions for you.
Foreign prescriptions are accepted provided they include the essential required information and are written in French, German or English. Any other language will result in the CNS refusing to validate it.
It is possible to see a physiotherapist without a medical prescription, i.e., without a medical prescription.
The physiotherapist assumes professional responsibility for his or her practice. The evolution of the techniques available to the professional makes it possible to broaden the range of care and to adapt it as best as possible to the needs and the evolution of the state of health of the patients.
The physiotherapist presents at the end of the treatment an invoice showing the total amount to be paid by the patient (no CNS reimbursement).
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