Health insurance

All residents in Belgium, Belgian nationals and international residents, are required by law to be covered by a health insurance policy.

The IOB cooperates with the Christian Health Insurance fund (CM) for affiliation of students. The affiliation procedure runs through the IOB student office. One can register at the health insurance as a student prior to obtaining the residence permit or as a resident after having obtained the residence permit. Depending on the visa code, the city hall may require proof of health insurance prior to issuing the residence permit.

Students are free to choose their health insurance; if you wish to affiliate with another health insurance fund than CM, you should inform the IOB student office.

Healthcare system

Belgium's healthcare system is known for its easy accessibility and high-quality treatments - made possible by the people's contributions to social security. Both employers and employees contribute to the social security.

Healthcare costs

Mandatory healthcare cover entitles the policyholder to a basic refund, i.e. to a refund for certain types of medication, and an allowance for numerous healthcare services. A standard health-insurance policy will reimburse about 65% of the cost of a doctor's visit, medication, and hospitalisation. More information is available here.

Refund

If you go to a doctor or receive other medical treatment, you have to pay the full consultation fee in exchange for a medical receipt or certificate. This receipt needs to be submitted to your health insurance fund. The insurance refund depends on the nature of the treatment. You will always need to pay your ‘patient share’; the remaining of the fee is covered by the health insurance (approx. 65% of the fee).

Medicines

Some medicines are available without doctor’s prescription; other medicines can only be purchased with a prescription of an acknowledged practitioner. For medicines purchased with prescription, the so-called ‘third payer scheme’ is applied: that means that you don’t have to pay the full price at the pharmacist’s; you only pay your personal share. The remaining amount is covered by the health insurance. Reimbursable pharmaceutical products are divided into categories: the reimbursement category indicates the to which extend the insurance contributes towards expenses. 

Hospital costs

In case of a stay at the hospital, expenses for medicines, doctor’s treatment and the patient fee are applied. Always ask for a double room and request information on doctor’s fees!

What to do in case of illness?

If you have a health-related problem, you can be helped by a whole number of healthcare workers. However, it is best to see a general practitioner (GP or 'huisarts' in Dutch) first of all rather than going to a hospital immediately. Only in case of emergency, you turn to the hospital immediately. Making use of the hospital emergency services unnecessarily or turning to a hospital doctor without being referred by a GP will result in a higher consultation fee which is not covered by your health insurance. A list of General Practitioners in the vicinity of the University campus is available at the IOB student office.

Emergencies

The national emergency telephone number is 112. You should only call this number if you require urgent assistance (unnecessarily calling the emergency services may result in a heavy fine). Explain the problem briefly to the operator, who will put you through to the police, fire brigade or ambulance service. Help will arrive within minutes. Tip: although people involved in accidents usually have a mobile phone with them, emergency personnel do not know who to call from their contacts list. Indicate the person you want contacted by the code 'ICE' ('in case of emergency'). This is an international convention, immediately recognisable by emergency workers.

More information

consult the brochure 'Everything you have always wanted to know about social security'