Once you live in Belgium, you can rest assured that the Belgian health insurance fund is very well organised. Before you officially register in the country, this is of course good to know, because medical care is certainly something that you need to arrange properly when you move to another country. Are you going emigrate to Belgium and do you need more information about health insurance in Belgium? Then read this article quickly and who knows, you might find the answer to your questions.
The Belgian health insurance fund
Just as you have to be insured in the Netherlands, this is also mandatory in Belgium. In Belgium, it is arranged that everyone who lives in Belgium is entitled to medical care. In Belgium, the health insurance fund is often called mutuality. In Belgium, you can insure yourself with a health insurer or you can opt for the federal Assistance Fund for Sickness and Disability Insurance (HIZV).
Furthermore, every health insurance fund also offers this mandatory free health insurance. This health insurance is paid for by employer and employee contributions. Think of certain taxes. The government also has certain subsidies for this. Everyone who works in the country or receives benefits is required to join the public health insurance fund. Are you a student and 25 years or older? Then you must pay a personal contribution to the health insurance fund.
Furthermore, in addition to this basic insurance, you can also take out additional insurance with a health insurer. With the HIZV, you are not obliged to have additional insurance, but with other health insurance funds this has been the case since 2010. People often choose this themselves, because these additional insurances also reimburse additional costs such as glasses, rehabilitation and dentistry.
Medical expenses
In Belgium, you have to pay approximately 13% of your gross salary as a contribution to the health insurance fund. Furthermore, employers also pay a contribution of between 15% and 22% of the salary. Children can be insured for free. Unfortunately, it is true that the medical expenses incurred can often not be fully reimbursed and that is why a personal contribution is often requested.
You can imagine that for someone who is chronically ill or needs care more often, the costs per year can increase considerably. These costs can easily amount to €1800 extra per year! To give you an example: in the event of a hospital stay or visit to a specialist, this personal contribution amounts to approximately 25% of the costs. This is also the reason that people in Belgium often take out additional insurance and therefore take out supplementary insurance. Belgium is also known for its high prices for medication. This is also why many Belgians buy their medication across the border in the Netherlands, because this is cheaper for them.
Your Dutch health insurance
If you are insured in the Netherlands, you do not need to take out additional insurance for medical care for holidays in other European countries. For example, you do not suddenly need to go to a foreign health insurer. This is due to the fact that as a Dutch citizen you are insured in all countries of the European Union and are therefore always entitled to medical care. Therefore, never forget to take your EHIC card with you.
BUT your situation concerns an emigration and not a holiday. What does this mean for you? This means that you can use the EHIC card for a stay of less than 3 months, but for a longer stay this is no longer possible. If you are really going to emigrate, you must cancel your Dutch health insurance and register with a Belgian health insurer. In Belgium, you are required to take out health insurance.
Can you receive a Dutch benefit in Belgium?
You cannot simply take a Dutch benefit abroad. Some benefits cannot even be taken abroad. However, special rules apply to some benefits within the EU. But which benefits can you take abroad and which not? You cannot take the following benefits abroad:
- Participation Act benefits or other assistance schemes
- Benefits based on the Allowances Act
- A Wajong benefit
When receiving a Wajong benefit, please note that there are certain exceptions. Whether you are entitled to this is best determined by the UWV to inquire.
An unemployment benefit
If you are currently receiving unemployment benefits, you can take them with you to a country that is a member of the European Union for a maximum of 3 months. Belgium is of course also included in this. For more information about this, we refer you to the UWV, because they can look at your personal situation together with you and therefore help you further.
Pension
Are you currently receiving a pension in the Netherlands or are you planning to retire in Belgium soon? This should always be carefully examined. The best way to obtain this information is from your pension fund or from the Social Insurance Bank. Namely, it must be looked at how long you have worked in the Netherlands, how long you have lived in the Netherlands and to which country you are moving. The Dutch rules regarding your pension must be carefully examined.
Finally
As you have read, it is important to look carefully at what you need to arrange when moving abroad. After all, you are responsible for these important matters yourself and you want to have everything arranged properly. So make sure you are well informed so that you do not have any problems later.
Often the websites of the central government also have a lot of information online. Furthermore, for specific questions it is always best to contact the relevant authorities. In addition to knowing all the laws and regulations, you can also tell them more about your information. In this way, they can not only answer your questions at these authorities, but they will probably also provide you with additional information. You may hear things that you had not even thought of before!
Do you have any questions?
Do you have any questions about emigrating to Belgium? About living and working in the country? Then we would like to refer you to the other articles on our website. Who knows, we may have answered your questions in one of the other articles!
