Reimbursement for lipedema surgery from the earliest stage

In Luxembourg, surgical procedures for lipedema are reimbursed from the 3rd stage onwards by the national health insurance fund. Democratic Party deputy Carole Hartmann asked the minister in charge why surgical procedures are not reimbursed from the first stage.

« Notre corps stocke des graisses afin de constituer des réserves d’énergies. Par « lipœdème» on entend le stockage anormalement localisé de ces graisses, le plus souvent réparties des hanches aux chevilles. 

Le lipœdème est une maladie reconnue par l’Organisation mondiale de la santé depuis 1940. Il peut passer par 4 phases aux cours desquelles les symptômes s’aggravent. Sans traitement la quantité des graisses sous la peau peut aller de 0,5 à 7 ou 8 litres. Ceci entraîne des difficultés à se mouvoir et donc à éliminer naturellement les graisses du corps. Des douleurs peuvent également survenir dès la phase 1. 

À ce sujet, j’aimerais poser les questions suivantes à Monsieur le Ministre de la Sécurité sociale :

  • L’opération du lipœdème est-elle considérée comme intervention de chirurgie esthétique? Dans l’affirmative, pour quelles raisons?
  • En termes de prévention, Monsieur le Ministre ne juge-t-il pas utile de rembourser des interventions chirurgicaux de lipœdème dès la phase 1 afin d’éviter l’aggravation des symptômes? Dans la négative, pour quelles raisons?
  • Dans la réponse à la question parlementaire N°3404 du 8 janvier 2021, Monsieur le Ministre a expliqué que la Commission de Nomenclature a décidé d’introduire deux nouveaux actes pour le traitement du lipœdème en phase 3. Monsieur le Ministre, peut-il fournir des précisions concernant ces nouveaux actes? »

Would you like this parliamentary question to be translated into English?

Share:

Facebook
Twitter
LinkedIn
Email
WhatsApp

More parliamentary questions

How long are the waiting times at the “Travel Clinic”?

If you are travelling to tropical regions, you can get advice and be vaccinated against various diseases at the CHL’s “Travel Clinic”. However, the waiting times at this clinic are currently said to be quite long.
DP MPs Dr Gérard Schockmel and Gilles Baum have asked the Minister of Health how many patients have been seen at the “Travel Clinic” over the last ten years, how waiting times have developed over this period and whether it would not make sense to make it possible to book appointments online, as is the case with many other CHL services.

read more...

How can the nursing assistant profession be upgraded?

The shortage of nursing staff is one of the biggest challenges facing the current government. In this context, DP MPs André Bauler and Gilles Baum wanted to know from the Minister of Health, among other things, how many nursing assistants are currently working in the country, how many have changed careers in recent years and what measures the government intends to take to make the profession more attractive again.

read more...

Medical referrals abroad

Since 1 June 2025, doctors have to fill out a new form if they want to send a patient abroad for treatment. The doctor must now indicate whether or not the services can be provided in Luxembourg within an ‘acceptable period’. If the doctor indicates that the services could actually be provided in Luxembourg, the referral request is automatically rejected.
DP MP Dr Gérard Schockmel has asked the Minister of Health whether the mere reduction to the ‘acceptable period’, without taking into account the quality of care, might not lead to unjustified rejections and whether the new form might not force doctors to provide false information in order to guarantee their patients the best possible care.

read more...

How many doctors work in the north of the country?

In the north of the country, citizens often have to travel long distances to get to a clinic or medical centre.
DP MPs André Bauler and Gilles Baum asked the Minister for Health, among other things, how many GPs and specialists work in the north of the country, what the age pyramid is for doctors and when a second medical centre might open in the north.

read more...