Universal access to contraception approved by the Government Council

On 20 January 2023, the Government Council approved the preliminary draft of the Grand Ducal Regulation on the nomenclature of medical acts and services covered by health insurance in order to implement the programme of preventive medicine and universal access to contraception at national level.

The contraception programme has been formalised in a new agreement between the State of the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg and the Caisse nationale de santé (CNS) and provides for access to and coverage of safe and reliable contraceptives on medical prescription, without age limit and without distinction as to the type or method of contraception.

"Free access to contraceptives for everyone, without age limit, will allow everyone to choose the contraceptive method that suits them best, in consultation with their attending physician, without necessarily having a medical indication," said Paulette Lenert, Minister of Health.

A limited list of contraceptives is currently reimbursed at 80% on prescription for women under 30 in Luxembourg.

After the entry into force of the Grand-Ducal Regulation of the Convention, the following contraceptives will be covered:

• oral oestroprogestins for contraceptive use (contraceptive pill);
• transdermal oestroprogestins for contraceptive use (contraceptive patch);
• vaginal oestroprogestins for contraceptive use (contraceptive ring);
• oral progestins for contraceptive use (minipill);
• injectable progestins for contraceptive use (contraceptive injection);
• hormonal emergency contraception (morning-after pill);
• progestins for contraceptive use in the form of a subcutaneous implant (contraceptive implant);
• intrauterine device for contraceptive purposes (IUD);
• tubal ligation for permanent contraceptive purposes (sterilisation);
• surgery on the vas deferens for permanent male contraception (vasectomy).

In addition, in case of emergency, a medical prescription is not required for the reimbursement of the morning-after pill from a pharmacy open to the public.

"Universal free access to contraception will thus be introduced, with no age or method restrictions," said Claude Haagen, Minister of Social Security.

The state budget covers 100% of the costs of the new procedures and those modified by the Grand Ducal regulation.

Press release by the Ministry of Health / the Ministry of Social Security