If you have healthcare insurance coverage in Belgium, then, subject to certain conditions, you are entitled to travel to another country of the European Union*, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway or Switzerland for planned healthcare (e.g. for consultation with a specialist, to buy medicines or for a surgical operation in a hospital, etc.).
There are two ways of claiming reimbursement for healthcare received in another country of the European Union*, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway or Switzerland:
- reimbursement according to the rules and rates of the country where you received the healthcare (Regulations (EC) 883/2004 and 987/2009* - S2 form*);
- reimbursement according to the rules and rates applied by Belgian compulsory health insurance (European directive 2011/24/EU*).
There are clear differences between these two reimbursement procedures. You should make sure you are properly informed as to what you are entitled to and any restrictions which may apply.
So contact your health insurance fund* beforehand. It can give you more information as to what you need to do before and after receiving the planned healthcare. Your health insurance fund* can also let you know what is and is not permitted, and let you know of any particular reimbursement conditions (including which types of healthcare do or do not require prior authorisation*, the level of any reimbursement for the planned treatment to be received abroad, specific implementing rules concerning reimbursement, etc.).
Attention !: If you live in another country of the European Union*, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway or Switzerland, You must be in possession of Belgian electronic proof of identity (e.g. eID*), an |
More info?
Contact your health insurance fund*. You can also find more information in a European Commission brochure.
* cf. Glossary