Under a new scheme, women who use IUD birth control will be able to claim back all of the costs involved. JPC-PROD/Shutterstock.

Under a new scheme, women who use IUD birth control will be able to claim back all of the costs involved. JPC-PROD/Shutterstock.

Costs incurred for the introduction and removal of intrauterine devices will be fully reimbursed starting in 2023, the government says. Plans for similar schemes for elective female sterilisation and vasectomy are also under review.

Replying to a parliamentary question from LSAP deputies and , health minister and minister for social security (both also LSAP) have supplied details of plans to make some forms of contraception free of charge.

A convention to allow patients who use contraception devices and condoms to claim back costs via the CNS national health fund had already been mooted in January 2020, Di Bartolomeo and Hemmen explained in their question. The MPs wanted to know what progress had been made and what type of contraception would be included in the final agreement.

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The two ministers replied that “work on this file has not progressed according to the original schedule” due to the covid pandemic.

But the ministries and the CNS are preparing to submit proposals that would allow women to get the costs of putting in and removing intrauterine devices reimbursed by the fund – at present only the cost of the device itself can be claimed. Discussions are underway with the Luxembourg Society of Gynaecology and Obstetrics to finalise the agree on the rates they will apply, the ministers say.

Meanwhile, the ministers have also agreed to extend the scope of the convention to include female sterilization and vasectomy. Which means adults who choose to electively undergo these procedures will still be reimbursed.

Discussions are also underway to expand free distribution channels for condoms, according to Lenert and Haagen.

“This extension [to the current convention] will mean that, after consultation with their doctor, anybody will be able to choose the most suitable means of contraception,” the ministers said.