If you move to Belgium to live or plan to work in the country, you'll have to register with a social security organisation (mutuelle or ziekenfonds) to receive medical care in the country.
Once you've registered, all your dependants, such as children or a non-working spouse, can also be covered under the social insurance scheme.
Working in Belgium
As soon as you move to Belgium, you must register with a mutuelle or ziekenfonds.
The Belgian health insurance and social security system is administered by several mutuelles or ziekenfonds, which are linked to the various political parties: the Liberal, Neutral, Christian and Socialist parties. You are free to choose one that best suits your needs.
Both you and your employer must make contributions to your social security and health insurance through the mutuelle or ziekenfonds. The amount you have to pay is set by the Belgian government. You can also choose to take out further private health insurance coverage, which covers any fees not reimbursable by the mutuelles or ziekenfonds.
Self-employed workers and freelancers
Self-employed people are only insured for major risks – for example, hospital surgery and radiography – but you can take out additional cover for minor risks. This extra cover then entitles you to partial reimbursement for consultations, certain dental care, physiotherapy, prostheses and medication when not in hospital.
For more information about healthcare in Belgium, visit the Belgium.be portal.
For hospital stays and medication from a pharmacy, you only pay your personal share. The hospital or pharmacy reads your Belgian residence card to determine the type of cover given, then collects the balance directly from the health insurance fund.
Some people choose to take out additional healthcare insurance to cover them for any amounts not refunded by their health insurance scheme.
Paying for medical treatment
Receiving medical treatment in Belgium works on a pay-per-service basis, where the patient is billed and pays for each individual consultation, treatment or procedure they receive, and then submits a claim to the appropriate insurance company to reclaim part or all of the cost.
Very occasionally, the full cost of medical treatment is reimbursed through the mutuelles or ziekenfonds, but usually up to 80% will be returned with the remainder covered by the patient.
Find further information about social security contributions and the cost of medical care from Belgium's Federal Public Service Social Security portal (PDF, 1.1Mb).
Seconded or posted to Belgium
If you are a worker posted by a UK company to Belgium, you may be entitled to health cover in Belgium funded by the UK. Contact HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) for more details:
National Insurance Contributions and Employer Office
HM Revenue and Customs
BX9 1AN
UK
Tel: 0300 200 3506
Outside UK: +44 191 203 7010
Opening times: 8.30am to 5pm, Monday to Friday – closed weekends and bank holidays
For more information, read our information on moving abroad.
Studying in Belgium
If you are moving to Belgium to study or are currently studying in Belgium as part of a UK-recognised course, you may be entitled to healthcare paid for by the UK government.
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Pensioners
If you are living in Belgium and receive an exportable UK pension, contribution-based Employment Support Allowance or another exportable benefit, you may be entitled to state healthcare paid for by the UK. You will need to apply for a certificate of entitlement known as an S1 form.
For exportable UK pensions and contribution-based Employment Support Allowance, you can apply for your form via the International Pension Centre at the Department for Work and Pensions – call them on 0191 218 7777.
You may need to liaise with a different team, depending on the exportable benefit. Find out more about claiming benefits if you live, move or travel abroad on the GOV.UK website. Different exportable benefits can have different rules in terms of healthcare cover.
Once issued, register the S1 form with the relevant authority in Belgium. Often, you need to do this before you can register for healthcare or obtain a medical card.
Once you have registered your S1 in Belgium, you will be entitled to apply for and use a UK-issued EHIC to access state-funded necessary medical treatment when you visit other EEA countries.
The Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) provides useful information for Britons living in Belgium.