Belgium Health Insurance

World famous chocolate, beer and waffles help to make the Kingdom of Belgium a popular tourist destination for travelers worldwide. Besides its outstanding food and drink, the country is also ideal for those who enjoy outdoor sports, medieval architecture, museums and quaint countryside villages. Belgium has a diverse and interesting history that has resulted in two distinct, but occasionally disagreeable, cultures. The country is split into three main regions, the northern predominantly Dutch-speaking Flanders, the French-speaking Wallonia in the south and those with Germanic descent to the east. Belgium is officially a trilingual nation to accommodate its various cultural groups. The country is the founding nation and headquarters for the European Union (EU) and the headquarters of NATO. Belgians enjoy exceptionally high standard of living and high annual household income, which results in good education and above-average general health. It is ranked 18th on the Human Development Index which is a measure of life expectancy, literacy, education and standards of living for countries around the world.

Belgium Health System

One of the requirements of all nations for acceptance into the EU is a form of socialized health care, and Belgium is no exception. All 10.4 million Belgians are covered under the national health care plan as administered by the national government and the Ministry of Health. Unlike many countries that rely on a vast system of public healthcare outlets, Belgium's medical industry is almost entirely privatized save for a few hospitals and clinics which mainly cater to military veterans. As a result of free market competition and strict regulation at both a federal and regional levels, costs are kept reasonably affordable and access is open to all. Doctors themselves are well regulated as a result of regulations by the Ministry of Health and patient-review databases that reduce the practice of over-prescribing pharmaceuticals and other abuses of quality and efficiency of care. Strict disciplinary action can ensue if they are found guilty of misconduct.

Belgium's health care is on par with other developed countries and virtually every type of medical treatment is performed on a routine basis. Belgian doctors are known worldwide as experts in numerous procedures that are only beginning to be offered in some less developed places. The high quality of doctors is a result of nine universities in Belgium which offer advanced medical degrees. The doctor to patient ratio in Belgium is one of the best in the world at about 1:220 residents.

A typical indicator of the level of care and general best management practices in place in a county's medical system is the frequency of secondary infection in patients who undergo surgery. As a testament to the quality of care offered in Belgium, less than 0.5 per cent of patients experience secondary infection compared to nearly 9 per cent in the United Kingdom.

Visitors and expatriates should have no concerns about the availability of care should an illness or injury befall them unexpectedly. In fact, about 20,000 persons per year travel to Belgium with the intent of receiving medical treatment at one of its approximately 200 hospitals. Common medical tourism procedures include: dental surgeries and tooth replacements, plastic surgery and augmentation, hip or knee replacement, weight-loss operations and open-heart surgery. Most doctors and medical staff, in addition to their native language, speak fluent English.

Belgium Medical Insurance

This ease of access to medical care is due to the fact that over 99 per cent of Belgians are covered by socialized medical insurance. Belgian health insurance comes in two separate forms, decided upon by their type of employment. Those who work for an employer fall under the General Scheme which gives them access to medical insurance through their employment, while self-employed persons fall under the Self-Employed Scheme. Coverage is basically the same, but funding via taxes comes from both the employer and employee contributing in the General Scheme. Self-employed will pay a higher tax rate as they will make all contributions personally. Coverage can be denied if someone is found delinquent in payment according to their level of income, though this is uncommon.

While the health care system is highly effective in Belgium, it is not cheap. Financial responsibility for all treatments falls immediately on the patient who is required to arrange payment and then request reimbursement from the government. The government typically covers up to 90 per cent, leaving the patient with a 10 per cent co-payment. While cost is not as expensive as other countries it can still be a major burden for anyone who is not covered by sufficient insurance and left to pay out of pocket. Fortunately, other EU citizens are typically covered through reciprocal arrangements by their home countries' national health care plans, but anyone not covered is strongly encouraged to take out private Belgium medical insurance coverage for the duration of their stay. A few private insurance carriers are available domestically in Belgium and most international policies are honored, although it is best to ensure acceptance prior to treatment when possible.

Traveler's Information

Temperatures are cool and mild in Belgium with winter lows of around 3°C and summer highs of about 18°C with intermittent rainfall all year long. No vaccinations are required for travel to Belgium, though routine vaccines are always recommended. Tourists are advised that petty theft is very common in major cities in Belgium and public transport in Brussels at night should be avoided when traveling by yourself, if possible, as there have been several reports of theft and assault.

Expat Medical Insurance

Holidays are meant to relieve stress, not cause it, and persons working abroad have enough to think about to not want to deal with payment for large medical bills should they require hospitalization while in a foreign country. Expat Medical Insurance has several Belgium Health Insurance plans as well as International Medical Insurance coverage available to suit your needs. Our team of insurance experts will help you, free of charge, to select the package that is right for you or your family to ensure the peace of mind that you require. Contact Expat Medical Insurance today for a free quote and consultation.

If you choose to travel to Belgium it is recommended that you purchase travel insurance so you have access to the best medical facilities if the need arises. Those travellers who are not from the EU will not be covered for emergency medical treatment while visiting Belgium. At Expat Medical Insurance we can assist you with selecting a medical insurance package that best meets you needs. We work with many of the world’s leading medical insurers and can help you to select a policy that’s tailored to your requirements. Please contact us today for a no obligation free international health insurance quotation from one of our highly trained medical insurance specialists.