Objective
Regulations (EC) 883/2004 and 987/2009*
- aim at facilitating the free movement of citizens within the European Union*;
- are the most important European Union* legal texts in relation to access to healthcare in another country of the European Union*.
Where?
Regulations (EC) 883/2004 and 987/2009 apply in the 28 countries of the European Union*, but also in Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway and Switzerland. For more information, visit the European Commissie website.
They apply to …
Regulations (EC) 883/2004 and 987/2004 apply, among other areas, to:
- unplanned healthcare received during a temporary stay in another country,
and
- planned healtcare received in another country.
The regulations only apply to healthcare supplied by healthcare providers* working within the public healthcare system.
They do not apply to …
Regulations (EC) 883/2004 and 987/2009 do not apply to healthcare supplied by individual private healthcare providers (doctors, dentists, etc.) or in private hospitals.
Reimbursement
You are treated subject to the same conditions (fees, reimbursement, etc.) as a resident of the country in which you are receiving healthcare.
Depending on the legislation of the country concerned, healthcare is either supplied free of charge or, if you have to pay, the costs are reimbursed. If you have to pay up front, you may claim reimbursement from a health insurance fund* in the country of treatment, or, if you have not been able to claim reimbursement on the spot, you may, on your return home, claim reimbursement from your Belgian health insurance fund*.
The costs are reimbursed according to the rules and rates of the country where you have received care.
More info?
Get into contact with your health insurance fund* or consult the European Commission website.
* cf. Glossary