Psychotherapy

Services provided by psychotherapists are only covered by health insurance if prescribed by a doctor.

With their medical prescription, doctors certify that there is no medical contraindication to psychotherapy, that the mental or behavioural disorder has no somatic origin, or that it is being treated, and that psychotherapeutic treatment is appropriate.

  SP01 - Prior or subsequent prescription

For the introductory psychotherapy session (SP01), the medical prescription does not need to be issued before the session is started.

The insured may receive one to three sessions of introductory psychotherapy without a medical prescription issued prior to services provided. However, a medical prescription is required and must be issued within 90 days of the first session of introductory psychotherapy for which reimbursement is claimed.

  SP02 and SP03 - Prior prescription only

For supportive psychotherapy (SP02) and extended supportive psychotherapy (SP03), a doctor's prescription must be issued before the start of the sessions. 

Unless otherwise specified by the doctor, medical prescriptions for services of psychotherapists may only be reimbursed by health insurance if the treatment is started within 90 days of the prescription's issue date.

Only one act of the nomenclature (SP01, SP02 or SP03) can be used per day.

1. Limitations over time

Coverage of psychotherapy is limited in time:

• Every 5 years, up to 3 acts SP01 (introductory psychotherapy) and up to 24 acts SP02 (supportive psychotherapy)
• Every 10 years, up to 120 acts SP03 (extended supportive psychotherapy)
  

The 5-year and 10-year periods are calculated from the issue date of the medical prescription resulting in the coverage of an introductory psychotherapy session (SP01), which marks the beginning of the treatment.

2. Limitations per prescription

The first medical prescription covers a maximum of 27 sessions:

• 3 sessions of introductory psychotherapy (SP01), and
• 24 sessions of supportive psychotherapy (SP02).

Thereafter, a new medical prescription is required for each 24 sessions of extended supportive psychotherapy (SP03).

The prescriptions must comply with the criteria listed above (see "Medical prescription").

Upfront payment

The psychotherapist issues one or several invoices showing the total amount to be paid, i.e. the part to be covered by health insurance and the part to be paid by the insured person. After payment, the insured submits a reimbursement request to their competent health fund (CNS or public sector sickness fund) for reimbursement of the portion covered by health insurance.

The insured person sends a reimbursement claim to the competent health insurance fund, including:

• the psychotherapist's invoice(s). These invoices must be paid and receipted and bear the insured person's 13-digit identification number, surname and first name.
• the original medical prescription, to be sent together with the first submission of invoices associated with the prescription.
  

Acts and services listed in the nomenclature of psychotherapists are reimbursed at a rate of:

• 70% for adults;
• 100% for insureds who have not reached the age of 18 on the date the medical prescription is issued.

Yes, you can obtain psychotherapy from a psychotherapist in an EU country, Norway, Iceland, Liechtenstein and Switzerland. Conditions and reimbursement rates are the same as if you were seeing a psychotherapist in Luxembourg.

Please note: If you are a cross-border worker and you consult a psychotherapist in your country of residence, the health insurance fund in your country of residence is responsible for any reimbursement. Please send your request to the competent fund in your country of residence.

According to European legislation, for cross-border workers, the health insurance fund of the country of residence is responsible for covering healthcare provided in that country. Please contact the competent fund in your country of residence.

Yes, the medical prescription can be issued by a doctor established in an EU country, Norway, Iceland, Liechtenstein and Switzerland. It must meet the set criteria (see "Medical prescription").

No. Teleconsultations, whether in Luxembourg or abroad, are not covered because they are not included in the nomenclature of psychotherapists.

In everyday life, the terms psychologist, psychiatrist and psychotherapist are often used as synonyms, but they are three different professions.

• A psychologist is a person who holds at least a master's degree in psychology and who is active in the fields of counselling, coaching, training and/or diagnosis.
• A psychiatrist is a doctor who has specialised in psychiatry. Unlike a psychologist, a psychiatrist has a basic medical degree and is therefore allowed to prescribe medication.
• A psychotherapist is a psychologist or psychiatrist who has undergone further training in psychotherapy. Not all psychologists or psychiatrists are also psychotherapists. Article 1 of the Luxembourg law of 14 July 2015 on psychotherapists precisely defines the profession of psychotherapist.

Source: Website of ALEP - Association Luxembourgeoise des Etudiants en Psychologie