Doctors
Most doctors in Belgium offer private healthcare, but there are a few who do both. It is necessary to pay a doctor for any healthcare provided, but you might be able to claim back up to 75% of the costs. The 25% is non-refundable in Belgium but you may be able to seek reimbursement when you are back in the UK.
The doctor might provide a medical certificate where necessary and you should always ask your doctor for a receipt on an ‘Attestation de soins donnés/Getuigschrift voor verstrekte hulp’.
Dentists
The majority of dentists in Belgium offer private healthcare. However, some dentists accept part-payment if you show your European Health Insurance Card (EHIC). You should therefore check before registering with a dentist as treatment charges differ considerably.
Bigger cities, Brussels in particular, offer international dentistry practices, though they can be considerably more expensive.
For any specialist work, such as crowns and bridges, the dentist may be able to offer you different payment options and quotations for your treatment.
In all cases, it is necessary to pay the dentist for any healthcare provided but you might be able to claim back up to 75% of the costs. The 25% is non-refundable in Belgium but you may be able to seek reimbursement when you are back in the UK.
A dentist might provide a medical certificate, where necessary and you should always ask your dentist for a receipt on an ‘Attestation de soins donnés/Getuigschrift voor verstrekte hulp’.
Anyone living in Belgium must visit the dentist at least once a year to qualify for health insurance reimbursement.
Hospital treatment
A doctor referral is not necessary. You can arrange to see a specialist of your choice at any hospital. Accident and Emergency departments also offer immediate treatment, though you should not use this as a doctor replacement.
In Brussels, the 11 biggest public hospitals are organised under the Iris Association (information available only in French or Dutch).
Prescriptions
You can obtain medicines from any pharmacy in Belgium, but in most cases, you will need to present a prescription. You will have to pay for your prescription at the pharmacy though the charges may vary between 0 % and 80 %. The 25% is non-refundable in Belgium but you may be able to seek reimbursement when you are back in the UK.
The pharmacist should issue you a certificate that states the medicine provided and the charge paid. This allows you to claim reimbursements subsequently from a Belgian health insurance organisation.
Finally, you may be able to claim back some outpatient care (eg. physiotherapy) when covered by a prescription. There is list of medicines for which reimbursement is made. For more information, contact the Ministry of Health in Belgium.
Ambulance
In most cases, ambulance travel in Belgium is charged. State health provision does not generally provide any reimbursement for use of an ambulance. There is a standard charge for using an ambulance (the so-called '100'). Additionally, a charge per km is added covering the distance of travel to the hospital. In the end you will be sent an invoice with the amount to be paid by post that you must pay in full. These charges are non-refundable in Belgium but you may be able to seek reimbursement when you are back in the UK.
Air ambulance
No information available.
