Health insurance

All employees are obliged to register with a Belgian health insurance provider (“mutualiteit” in Dutch) or at the Hulpkas voor Ziekte- en Invaliditeitsverzekering (HZIV).

After you register and start paying contributions, most of your medical costs will be reimbursed and you will also have access to a limited replacement income in case of long-term illness (>30 days).

More information about the reimbursement of medical costs can be found under the section on health insurance.

You will only be eligible for a replacement income after a waiting period of 12 months. Under certain conditions, a reduction or exemption from this waiting time is possible, for example if you start work straight after graduating, or if you have previously worked in a European country or in a country with which Belgium has a bilateral agreement. More information about these conditions and the procedure can be found on the website of RIZIV.