Terms and conditions
1. Purpose of LAR
Luxembourg Air Rescue A.s.b.l. (« LAR ») is a non-profit organisation registered with the Luxembourg Trade and Companies Register under number F.107, with its principal operational base located at Luxembourg Airport, Findel.
LAR’s primary mission is to save lives and safeguard the health of individuals indistress within the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg through an air rescue service operation 365 days per year, capable of reaching any location in the countrywithin approximately ten minutes.
By becoming a member, you contribute to the continued availability of this helicopter-based emergency medical service, which benefits both members and non-members. Membership becomes effective upon submission of the completed application form and payment of the annual membership fee.
2. Right of withdrawal
Members have the right to withdraw from their membership without providing any reason within fourteen (14) days. The withdrawal period begins on the date LAR receives the membership fee. Withdrawal should preferably be communicated by registered mail with acknowledgement of receipt, or by email (member@lar.lu).
3. Repatriation insurance with Foyer
Membership includes coverage under a group insurance policyconcluded by LAR with Foyer Assurances S.A., 12 rue Léon Laval, L-3372Leudelange. In practice, all repatriation services – including theirorganisation - are provided exclusively by LAR and its designatedpartners. Coverage under the group insurance automatically ceases whenmembership ends. The insurance covers only the repatriation of registeredmembers who are hospitalised abroad or under medical supervision of a physicianabroad due to a serious accident or illness, where their condition preventsthem from returning to their residence or a nearby hospital by their own means.
3.1 What are the arrangements regarding repatriation?
3.1.1 The principle of repatriation
Repatriation is conducted as promptly as possible,considering:
• The patient’s medical condition,
• LAR’s personnel and technical capacities,
• The availability of suitable transport resources.
LAR may engage partners of its choice. Transport may be provided by ambulance, train, commercial aircraft (with or without medical escort), helicopter, or air ambulance.
Air ambulance missions are generally performed by Luxembourg Air Services (LAS), a subsidiary of LAR.
The LAR physician determines, based on information provided by the treating physician abroad, whether the patient is fit to fly and selects the most appropriate mode of transport.
All repatriation requests must be made by telephone to the LAR emergency centre, using the number indicated on the membership card.
3.1.2 Repatriation destination
Repatriation is conducted either:
- To the member’s residence (as defined below), or
- To a hospital located near the member’s residence.
3.2 Conditions
3.2.1 Eligibility for repatriation
Repatriation services are provided strictly based on the medical needs of the registered member. The members and patients constitute the core purpose of LAR’s activities, and all assistance focuses on ensuring the highest possible standard of care for the individuals to be repatriated, in the interest of all LAR members.
The following persons are eligible for repatriation services and are considered members for the purposes of these conditions:
• Individual Membership: The person whose nameappears on the membership application form (“the Member”). A reduced fee applies to individuals aged 18 to 25 inclusive (“Youngsters”).
• Family Membership: The member, the member’s spouse or life partner, and their children up to the age of 18.
For the purposes of these conditions, spouse or life partnerrefers to both married and unmarried partners, regardless of the legal statusof the relationship, provided that both partners share the same residence.
Under family membership, the jointly parented children of the member and the spouse or life partner are automatically covered until they reach the age of 18. Children of either partner from previous relationships are also covered until the age of 18, provided that their identity has been officially communicated to LAR.
Youngsters benefit from all services described in Article 3,in the same manner as all other members.
Repatriation services are provided exclusively to thepersons listed above who require medical assistance abroad.
Other individuals living in the same household as the member (e.g., parents, siblings, other relatives, or friends) are not covered by the family membership and have no entitlement to repatriation services, even if they share the same residence. In the event of divorce, dissolution of the partnership, or separation, the spouse or life partner and any non-joint children lose their entitlement to family membership.
Children lose their entitlement once they no longer reside in the same household as the member.
3.2.2 Exclusions related to eligibility
A right to repatriation exists only if:
- LAR has received the first membership fee at least 1 month before the first request for repatriation, and
- The member’s permanent, primary, and actual residence is located in Luxembourg, Belgium, the Netherlands, France, Monaco, Germany, Austria, or Switzerland.
A stay abroad may not exceed 100 consecutive days. This limitation does not apply to Youngsters.
Youngsters benefit from a preferential membership fee. The applicable fee is determined by LAR’s current fee schedule. Upon reaching the age of 26, the Youngster fee is automatically converted into the standard individual membership fee. Conversion into a family membership is not automatic and must be expressly requested.
Members must provide, upon simple request and before or after repatriation, any documentation LAR deems necessary to verify compliance with the residence requirement. Failure to provide such documentation, or insufficient proof of residence, results in the refusal of repatriation. If repatriation has already taken place, reimbursement of costs may be claimed.
Adopted children born abroad are covered only after theirfirst arrival at the member’s residence.
3.2.3 Medical repatriation
Registered members are repatriated in cases of serious illness or severe injury abroad when their condition prevents them from returning to their residence or a nearby hospital by their own means.
The decision to repatriate is taken by the LAR physician in consultation with the treating physician abroad.
Repatriation is conducted to Luxembourg or to one of the other eligible countries listed in article 3.2.2. To enable LAR to organise and conduct the repatriation, the member must be hospitalised or under the medical supervision of a physician who can act as a point of contact for LAR’s medical personnel.
The following cases are excluded from repatriation services:
- Minor illnesses or injuries treatable locally without preventing continuation of the trip,
- Post-operative complications following planned surgery abroad,
- Worsening of pre-existing conditions likely to require repatriation before departure,
- Illnessesor accidents resulting from gross negligence or addiction, including their consequences,
- Psychiatric, psychogenic, or psychosomatic disorders (for transport safety reasons),
- Suicide attempts and related complications,
- Consequence sof alcohol consumption,
- Consequences of the use of non-prescribed narcotics or drugs.
Accompanying persons, luggage, personal belongings, and pets are not repatriated. Repatriation of deceased members is not provided. LAR accepts no liability for damage to equipment used during repatriation.
3.3 Countries form which repatriation may be carried out
Repatriation may be conducted from anywhere in the world, provided that the safety of the member and of the medical and technical personnel can be guaranteed.
Repatriation is excluded from countries or regions:
- Affected by war or civil war,
- Experiencing unrest, uprisings, restrictions of movement, general strikes, or terrorist acts,
- Affected by radiation or nuclear incidents,
- Where force majeure makes repatriation impossible.
4. Duration and renewal of membership
The initial membership period becomes effective one month after LAR receives the annual membership fee. It ends on the last day of the month following the month of payment, unless renewed by payment of the membership fee for the following year.
For example, if a contribution is paid on March 16, the term begins on April 16 of the same year and end on April 30 of the following year.
The extension of the membership only becomes effective once the LAR has received the annual contribution payment and thereby established a new membership.
5. Data Processing
LAR processes member data for administrative and accounting purposes, including membership and donor management, service provision, management of contributions and donations, recruitment of new members and donors, and compliance with legal obligations.
Data is not shared with third parties except with competent authorities where legally required, and with service providers or contractual partners involved in the provision of repatriation services.
Members have the right to access and rectify their data by contacting member@lar.lu.
Updated privacy information is accessible at any time at www.lar.lu/en/privacy-policy