Belgium
Emergency
INAMI (fr) / RIZIV (nl) / NIHDI (en) / LIKIV (de)
(National Institute for Health and Disability Insurance)
Tel: +32 2 739 73 26 (French)
Tel: +32 2 739 75 73 (Dutch, English)
Tel: +32 2 739 70 67 (French, English)
Tel: +32 2 739 73 15 (Dutch, English, French, German)
E-mail: rir@riziv-inami.fgov.be
Website: www.riziv.be (Dutch); www.inami.be (French)
Belgian government portal – health
Treatment, coverage & costs
Doctors
- You must pay the doctor at the time of treatment, but you may be able to claim up to 75% of the cost if you show your “Attestation de soins donnés/Getuigschrift voor verstrekte hulp” at the desk of a local health insurance fund of your choice:
- Make sure the doctor gives you a receipt (“Attestation de soins donnés/Getuigschrift voor verstrekte hulp”) stating the amount you have paid.
Dentists
- You must pay the dentist at the time you are treated, but you may be able to claim up to 75% of the cost if you show your “Attestation de soins donnés/Getuigschrift voor verstrekte hulp” at the desk of a local health insurance fund of your choice:
- Make sure the dentist gives you a receipt (“Attestation de soins donnés/Getuigschrift voor verstrekte hulp”) stating the amount you have paid.
Hospital treatment
- You do not need a doctor's referral, and you may see a specialist of your choice at any hospital.
- If you do not show your European Health Insurance Card (or provisional replacement certificate) at the hospital, you will have to pay the full amount. You can, however, seek reimbursement afterwards from one of the Belgian health insurance funds by presenting a receipt (“Attestation de soins donnés/Getuigschrift voor verstrekte hulp”), a proof of payment and your European Health Insurance Card (or provisional replacement certificate) at the desk of a local health insurance fund of your choice:
Prescriptions
- You may need to hand over a doctor's prescription at the pharmacy (depending on the medicine/medical device concerned).
- You will have to pay the full amount at the pharmacy. You can, however, seek reimbursement afterwards if the medicine/medical device concerned qualifies for reimbursement. If reimbursement is applicable, the patient charges may vary between 0% and 80% of the price.
- Make sure the pharmacist gives you a receipt that states the medicine/medical device provided and the amount you have paid. With it, you can claim reimbursement from one of the Belgian health insurance funds:
Ambulance
- From 1 January 2019, urgent medical transportation (except by air) is no longer reimbursed by the Belgian public health insurance. You must pay a lump sum of €70,92 regardless of the distance travelled.
Air ambulance
- If you use medical air transportation (helicopters of CHU Sart Tilman and AZ Sint-Jan Brugge), you must pay a lump sum plus a fee per kilometre travelled. The Belgian public health insurance scheme reimburses 50% of the costs.
Reimbursement
Go to any “ziekenfonds”, “mutualité” or other “organisme assureur” of your choice. Ask for reimbursement based on the EHIC (or another document provided by your insurer), together with the official documents issued to you by the person or organisation that treated you (“Attestation de soins donnés/Getuigschrift voor verstrekte hulp”).
Prescriptions
For more information:
INAMI (fr) / RIZIV (nl) / NIHDI (en) / LIKIV (de)
(National Institute for Health and Disability Insurance)
Tel: +32 2 739 73 26 (French)
Tel: +32 2 739 75 73 (Dutch, English)
Tel: +32 2 739 70 67 (French, English)
Tel: +32 2 739 73 15 (Dutch, English, French, German)
E-mail: rir@riziv-inami.fgov.be
Website: www.riziv.be (Dutch); www.inami.be (French)
If you were unable to submit a claim during your stay in Belgium, contact your national health insurance provider once you return home.
Patient contribution
For more information:
National Institute for Health and Disability Insurance:
INAMI (fr) / RIZIV (nl) / NIHDI (en) / LIKIV (de)
Tel: +32 2 739 73 26 (French)
Tel: +32 2 739 75 73 (Dutch, English)
Tel: +32 2 739 70 67 (French, English)
Tel: +32 2 739 73 15 (Dutch, English, French, German)
E-mail: rir@riziv-inami.fgov.be
Website: www.riziv.be (Dutch); www.inami.be (French)
Dialysis, oxygen & chemotherapy
- For dialysis: Find the nearest dialysis centre on the Global Dialysis site
- For oxygen: Contact a local pharmacy at your place of stay
- For chemotherapy: Contact a local health insurance fund (pages in Dutch and French only)
How do I apply for an EHIC?
- Contact your health insurance fund ('ziekenfonds', 'mutualité' or 'organisme assureur')
- You can apply for an EHIC
- via a webform
- by telephone
- at the agency of your health insurance fund
Doctors & hospitals accepting the EHIC
- Almost all doctors and/or hospitals accept the EHIC
- You can find an individual health care provider (doctor, dentist, nurse, etc.) or a hospital in Belgium through
- the application 'Find a health care provider'
- the lists of hospitals on the website of the Belgian Federal Service Public Health (in Dutch or in French)
Loss of card
Contacts for holders of EHICs issued in Belgium
Contact your Belgian health insurance fund:
INAMI (fr) / RIZIV (nl) / NIHDI (en) / LIKIV (de)
If you do not know what your Belgian health insurance fund is, contact the National Institute for Health and Disability Insurance:
INAMI (fr) / RIZIV (nl) / NIHDI (en) / LIKIV (de)
Tel: +32 2 336 34 92 (Dutch, English)
Tel: +32 2 739 73 23 (French)
Tel: +32 2 739 75 73 (Dutch, English)
Tel: +32 2 739 70 67 (French, English)
Tel: +32 2 739 73 15 (Dutch, English, French, German)
E-mail: rir@riziv-inami.fgov.be
Website: www.riziv.be (Dutch); www.inami.be (French)