Health care includes both preventive and curative care. Health care is grouped
into different categories, such as: standard medical care (home visits of and
visits to GPs and specialists, dental care, births, etc.).
Beneficiaries
Sickness insurance covers almost all socio-professional categories, i.e.
wage-earners, the self-employed, civil servants, people on guaranteed minimum
income benefit, pensioners, students, handicapped people, etc., and their
dependants. Sickness insurance is also compulsory for everyone, and there are
all manner of measures to avoid some people still remaining uncovered as far as
possible. To be entitled to health care you must be registered with a mutual
benefit association and pay contributions. Obviously the amount of the
contributions depends on a number of factors, e.g. the claimant’s income.
To be entitled to health care you must be registered with a mutual benefit
association and pay contributions. Obviously the amount of the contributions
depends on a number of factors, e.g. the claimant’s income. (as proved by form
E-104)). In some countries there is a waiting period before you can benefit from
social protection in the new country where you are working. To avoid this, ask
your former insurance organisation to provide a certificate (once again, form
E104) proving that you were insured in your country of origin.
Refunding of medical expenses
If you consult a doctor or receive medical care (dentist, specialist,
generalist practitioner), you must pay, provisionally, the full amount yourself.
The doctor will then give you a certificate describing the care provided. If you
submit that certificate, the health scheme will refund some of the costs. The
part that is not refunded is the insured person’s own contribution. This
varies according to the type of service provided. As a general rule, the insured
person’s own contribution amounts to 25%. There is a special refund system for
disadvantaged persons.
Refunding of the cost of medicines
If a medicine is prescribed by a recognised doctor, the patient does not have
to pay for this in full, only the co-payment (ticket modérateur).
Refunding of hospital expenses
Expenses incurred in hospitals and other care institutions are refunded on a
lump-sum basis by the insurance scheme.
Physiotherapy is only refunded if the treatment is prescribed by a doctor.
There have been some changes concerning the refunding of physiotherapy
treatment. It is highly recommended that you consult the health scheme’s
medical care service.
Hospital insurance
Some companies take out hospitalisation insurance for their employees.
Some medicines are available without a prescription. You can find out more on
the Internet or by consulting a doctor or pharmacist.
The average Belgian spends €1,700 a year on healthcare, according to the
INAMI (National Institute for Health and Disability Insurance).
One out of four Belgians has trouble meeting the costs of healthcare.
Belgium is number five worldwide in terms of health spending relative to GDP.
Text last edited on: 05/2009
Source: European Union
© European Communities, 1995-2009
Reproduction is authorised.
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