What is Assurance Dépendance, exactly?
Assurance Dépendance is a branch of the Luxembourg social security system, managed by the Caisse Nationale de Santé (CNS). Decisions on benefits are made by the AEC (Administration d'évaluation et de contrôle de l'assurance dépendance). Created in 1998, it is funded by a special contribution levied on the professional and replacement income of all residents.
Its mission is simple: help anyone whose autonomy is durably reduced continue to live at home. This help takes several forms — cash benefits, home care, but also coverage of technical aids like stairlifts and vertical platform lifts.
The fundamental principle: if you meet the criteria for reduced autonomy, the Assurance Dépendance contributes to financing the technical aid that allows you to continue living at home. This depends on neither your income nor your age — it is a right tied to your autonomy condition.
Stairlifts under Assurance Dépendance
Among the technical aids that may be covered, a stairlift can be approved when the AEC assessment confirms that it meets the person's needs. The decision and level of coverage depend on each application.
Depending on the individual assessment, the AEC may authorise equipment such as:
Straight stairlifts (rectilinear rail)
Curved stairlifts (custom rail)
Outdoor stairlifts
Vertical platform lifts (Ascendor, Lehner)
Note: toilet seat lifts and electric mobility scooters are not currently covered by the AEC. For these products, MPG will inform you of alternative financing options during the home visit.
Any amount covered is the amount stated in the written AEC decision after the application and requested quotes have been reviewed.
Am I eligible?
Several conditions must be met. They are defined by Book V of the Luxembourg Social Security Code and the grand-ducal regulation on technical aids.
General conditions
1.Affiliation with Luxembourg social security. The vast majority of residents and cross-border workers benefit automatically.
2.Durable state of dependence. The reduced autonomy condition must, in all probability, persist for at least six months, or be irreversible.
3.Proven need for help. The person must have an important and regular need for assistance with the essential acts of daily life — particularly transfers, movement within the dwelling, and access to different levels.
For a stairlift specifically
The need must be linked to difficulties in level changes. This may be related to:
Advanced knee or hip osteoarthritis
Significant muscle weakness
High fall risk
Aftermath of stroke, orthopaedic surgery, or neurological pathology
Severe shortness of breath linked to cardio-pulmonary conditions
Your treating doctor clinically assesses the situation and documents it in the R20 medical report.
The process, step by step
The process follows seven official stages, in order. Count about 8 to 12 weeks between the first step and the actual installation of the stairlift.
Book an appointment with your doctor
The very first step is to book an appointment with your treating doctor. During the consultation, explain your difficulties going up and down stairs, any falls, pain, consequences on your daily life. Your doctor then fills in the R20 medical report, an official CNS document. This report is entirely free for you — it is covered by the Assurance Dépendance.
In parallel, you (or a family member) complete the Assurance Dépendance benefits application form, which can be downloaded as a PDF from guichet.lu or obtained from the CNS and AEC. The file is complete only once both documents (application form + R20) have reached the CNS.
This is generally the fastest stage: if your doctor is available, you can have the R20 within days.
The AEC home visit
Once the file is transmitted to the CNS, the AEC schedules a home visit at your address. An AEC assessor comes to observe directly your situation, your dwelling, the staircase concerned, and discusses your daily life with you.
This visit is essential: it allows the AEC to verify on-site that the eligibility conditions are met and to determine the equipment type suited to your situation.
Obtain two offers
The regulation requires you to present two offers from different suppliers for the same type of equipment.
Each supplier, including MPG, conducts a first home visit to photograph the staircase and assess the configuration. This preliminary visit is free and without commitment. MPG then sends you the quote within a maximum of 3 working days. You request a quote from MPG and from another approved installer.
Send both offers to the AEC
You submit both quotes to the AEC yourself, not the suppliers. The AEC reviews the proposals and may request adjustments. Its official letter specifies the authorised solution and any amount covered. Options or differences not covered remain payable by you.
Choose your installer
On the letter the AEC sends back, you tick the offer you choose and return the document to the AEC.
Compare the approved amount in the decision with the selected installer's quote.
If the quote exceeds the approved amount or includes uncovered options, the difference remains payable by you.
You keep the free choice of your installer — neither the AEC nor MPG decides for you.
The Bon de commande and the technical measurement
If you choose us, the CNS transmits an official decision (Bon de commande) that authorises the project to start. At that point, an MPG technician comes to your home to take the exact measurement of the staircase — this measurement allows the manufacturer (Otolift, Ascendor) to produce a rail perfectly adapted to your configuration.
Important: do not order or install any equipment before receiving the Bon de commande from the CNS. Coverage is never retroactive.
Manufacturing, installation, technical inspection and CNS billing
The manufacturer produces your custom stairlift in 1 to 3 weeks depending on the complexity of the staircase. Once the rail is delivered, MPG carries out the installation at your home in a single day, regardless of the staircase type (straight or curved).
After installation:
1.Technical inspection by an approved inspection body (e.g. Vincotte) — the independent body checks compliance with European standard EN 81-40. This inspection is mandatory and certifies the safety of your stairlift.
2.Training in use and handover of official documents (certificate of conformity, warranty, maintenance booklet).
3.Direct billing to CNS — MPG sends the invoice directly to CNS for the share covered by the Assurance Dépendance. You do not advance the money in case of full coverage.
4.Maintenance and upkeep — By law, maintenance, annual inspection and repair costs are your responsibility as the owner of the stairlift. MPG offers annual maintenance contracts and automatically contacts you each year for preventive maintenance.
What does it really cost?
Cas 1
The decision covers the selected quote
The AEC letter states the approved amount. MPG compares it with the final quote and confirms in writing whether any amount remains payable before ordering.
Cas 2
The quote exceeds the approved amount
The uncovered amount remains payable by you. MPG explains it clearly before ordering so you can make an informed choice.
Cas 3
You are not eligible for Assurance Dépendance
You pay the full cost. There are other complementary aids: housing improvement aid from the Housing Ministry, communal aids depending on your residence commune, possible coverage by private insurance. Another option: MPG also offers reconditioned stairlifts refurbished by our specialised team, with significant discounts — an attractive solution for families who do not qualify for coverage.
What MPG handles for you
Detailed quote established free at the home visit
VAT authorisation request from the Administration de l'Enregistrement (reduced rate of 3% applicable to technical aids)
Technical inspection coordination — we book the appointment with the approved inspection body and are present at the check
Direct billing to CNS for the covered portion
Automated maintenance reminders
24/7 after-sales service for any urgent intervention
Official documents classified and archived
Our installation method: minimal drilling thanks to adhesive bonding
MPG is the only installer in Luxembourg to use an adhesive-bonding fixation method for the majority of installations, rather than drilling through the entire staircase structure.
Concretely, the start and end points of the rail are drilled, but the entire middle section is bonded — without any perforation of stone, marble, or granite steps. Exception: for wooden or concrete staircases, the full rail must be drilled.
The practical consequences are important:
No permanent traces on stone, marble, or granite
Property value preservation, particularly for staircases in noble materials
Compatible with old staircases in stone or marble without risk of cracking
Cleaner installation, significantly less drilling dust
Extensive reversibility for heritage staircases in stone or marble
Realistic timelines in 2026
| Stage | Indicative duration |
|---|---|
| Appointment with your doctor (R20) | 3 to 10 days |
| AEC home visit | 3 to 6 weeks |
| MPG + competitor preliminary visits | 24 to 72 hours each |
| MPG quote delivery | max 3 working days |
| Send both offers to AEC + return letter | 2 to 4 weeks |
| Choose the offer and return to AEC | a few days |
| Bon de commande from CNS | 1 week |
| MPG exact technical measurement | 24 to 72 hours |
| Custom rail manufacturing | 1 to 3 weeks |
| Installation | 1 day |
| Technical inspection and CNS billing | following week |
Total average: 8 to 12 weeks between first consultation and use of the stairlift.
Typical MPG case timeline in 2026
Here is the classic week-by-week timeline of an MPG case. This chronology reflects the average observed across our installations in 2026, without personal details.
Week 1. Appointment with the treating doctor. The R20 is filled in. In parallel, the application form is completed (downloaded from guichet.lu). Both documents are transmitted to the CNS.
Week 4. AEC home visit. The assessor observes the situation and discusses daily life.
Week 5. MPG preliminary visit (photos, assessment). Quote sent within 3 working days. Another installer does the same. Both offers are transmitted to the AEC.
Week 7. The AEC sends an official letter specifying the authorised solution and any amount covered. The applicant then confirms their choice according to the instructions received.
Week 8. The CNS transmits the Bon de commande to the chosen installer. Our technician comes for the exact measurement. Custom rail manufacturing starts.
Week 10. Installation in a single day. Technical inspection by the approved body during the week. Training. Direct billing to CNS. MPG offers the annual maintenance contract.
Final cost: it depends on the AEC decision and the selected quote. MPG confirms any amount payable by you before ordering. Indicative duration: approximately 10 weeks, depending on the application.
Frequently asked questions
Does the Assurance Dépendance pay only for the rail or also for the seat, battery, etc.?
The CNS maximum tariff is defined per complete equipment type — rail, seat, batteries, remote control, and standard installation. Comfort options remain at the beneficiary's expense if they exceed the maximum tariff.
What happens if I move?
The stairlift can be cleanly disassembled. Depending on the case, it can be reinstalled at your new dwelling or taken back by MPG. The CNS must be informed of the move. Important: the law imposes a habitation obligation of at least 12 months in the dwelling where the technical aid was installed. In case of early move, a flat-rate restitution of €350 per missing month may be required.
Can I rent rather than buy?
The legislation provides for purchase or loan depending on the foreseeable evolution of your condition. In practice, the vast majority of cases involve purchase.
What happens if the CNS refuses my request?
You have 40 days to file an opposition with the CNS board of directors. If this opposition is rejected, you can refer the matter to the Conseil arbitral de la Sécurité Sociale within a further 40 days.
How long does a stairlift last?
15 to 20 years with regular maintenance. All our Otolift devices come with a 2-year warranty.
Does MPG install throughout Luxembourg?
Yes, we intervene across the entire Luxembourg territory.
Is anything to be paid before installation?
If your AEC file is in progress, no.
Is the R20 chargeable?
No. The R20 medical report is fully covered by the Assurance Dépendance.
Is there a minimum or maximum age for the Assurance Dépendance?
None. It is a right tied to autonomy condition, not age.
Sources
Administration d'évaluation et de contrôle de l'assurance dépendance (AEC) — aec.gouvernement.lu
Caisse Nationale de Santé (CNS) — cns.lu
Guichet.lu — Luxembourg citizen portal — guichet.lu
Book V of the Social Security Code — Assurance dépendance
Grand-ducal regulation of 30 July 2002 — 3% super-reduced VAT for technical aids
*Information verified in May 2026.*
