Health

Health insurance funds

If you stay in Belgium for more than three months as a student, you must join a health insurance fund or the HZIV.

A health insurance fund (‘mutualiteit’ or ‘ziekenfonds’) manages the compulsory health and disability insurance scheme. With a paid membership, it also offers a wide range of services relating to health and well-being.

What does a health insurance fund do?

• Reimburses a large proportion of medical costs, such as fees for a doctor’s appointment, pharmacy, dietitian or hospital admission.
• Offers extra benefits, such as home care, maternity care, medical equipment on loan and discounts on care products.
• Has a social work service that helps to make full use of benefits and rights

How much does a health insurance fund cost?

On average, between 97 and 114 euros per year. An alternative is the HZIV (National Institute for Health and Disability Insurance); this is free of charge, but only offers statutory insurance and no extra benefits.

Which health insurance fund?

For your specific situation, it is best to contact one of these health insurance funds directly:

• Join Helan Independent Health Insurance | Helan
• Welcome to CM, your health insurance fund
• Highly advantageous for you (#alg-sft) | solidaris-vlaanderen.be
• Neutraal Health Insurance Fund | Health insurance fund with a human touch
• Vlaams & Neutraal Health Insurance Fund | VNZ
• Welcome to LM Health Insurance Fund! | Liberale Mutualiteit
• HZIV | A different health insurance fund

The general practitioner (GP)

Your GP is your first point of contact for health issues.
You can visit your GP with all your questions about physical and mental health.

Your GP is a trusted person and offers direct help and is bound by professional secrecy.

How do you find a GP?

You choose your own GP. It is best to choose a permanent GP in your area. Use the website www.huisartszoeker.be.

GPs often work together in the same practice. There are often also other care professionals working there who can help you, such as nurses.

When should you go to your GP?

• If you are ill (fever, breathing problems, sore throat, stomach ache, etc.)
• If you have questions or concerns about mental health. Need to provide samples, such as urine or blood.
• Should you visit your GP, or can you solve an issue yourself?www.moetiknaardedokter.be advises whether or not someone should go to the doctor.

What to take with you?

• Valid identity card
• Digital ISI+ card (with your Belgian insurance details)
• List of medications
• Cash or a bank card

Advice: Arrive on time and let your GP know if you cannot arrive on time.

How do you pay the GP?

This may differ from one GP practice to another, depending on the payment system they use.

• Fee per serviceThe GP is paid for each appointment or home visit. The health insurance fund reimburses a large proportion of this amount. You pay a small amount per appointment (= co-payment).

• Flat-rateThe GP receives a fixed amount every month from the patient’s insurance for each registered patient and per discipline. The GP is therefore not paid per appointment or home visit. You do not have to pay anything per appointment.
  However, you must register as a patient with the flat-rate practice go to this practice when you are ill, not to another GP

• New DealThe GP uses a combined fee per service and flat-rate payment system. Usually, the GP works together with a nurse in such a system. You pay a small amount per appointment (= co-payment).

GP out-of-hours clinic

The GP out-of-hours clinic is for urgent GP care at night, at weekends, or on public holidays. The doctor at the GP out-of-hours clinic helps you with health questions that cannot wait until the next day or until after the weekend.

Go to the GP out-of-hours clinic on:

• Saturdays, Sundays, or public holidays
• Weekdays between 7 p.m. and 8 a.m.

Please note: The GP out-of-hours clinic is not a replacement for your fixed GP. They do not help with repeat prescriptions for ongoing medication, prescriptions for sedatives, prescriptions for sleeping medication, certificates and other documents, …

What to take with you?

• Valid identity card
• Digital ISI+ card (with your Belgian insurance details)
• List of medications
• Cash or a bank card

How do you pay at the GP out-of-hours clinic?

The GP out-of-hours clinic uses the official rates for an appointment at the weekend and on public holidays. These are more expensive than a regular appointment.

The health insurance fund reimburses part of the cost. You pay a small amount yourself (= patient contribution). What if you have no health insurance? Then you have to pay the full amount yourself.

Find a GP out-of-hours clinic

View the overview of GP out-of-hours clinics in Antwerp.

Also useful:

• out-of-hours pharmacy
• out-of-hours dentist

Accident and emergency department (A&E, “spoeddienst”)

Go to the A&E when you have urgent and unexpected medical problems. Healthcare professionals are on hand 24/7.

Your GP can also refer you to A&E with a referral letter. You must hand in that letter at A&E.

What should you take with you?

• Valid identity card
• (Referral letter from the GP)
• Digital ISI+ card (with your Belgian insurance details)
• List of medications
• Blood group card and vaccination card, if available
• Money or a bank card

How do you pay for A&E?

• At A&E, you do not pay straight after the consultation. The bill will be sent later.
• What you have to pay depends on:
  • Whether you were referred by a GP. Then it is cheaper.
  • Whether you were brought to A&E by ambulance..

Where can you find an A&E?

Go to the A&E in these Antwerp hospitals.

The specialist

A specialist is a doctor or healthcare provider with specific medical expertise. At the request of the GP or another doctor, the specialist carries out additional examinations or treatments.

When should you go to a specialist?

You should not visit a specialist on your own initiative. The GP refers you.

What should you take with you to the specialist?

• Referral letter from the GP
• Valid identity card
• Digital ISI+ card (with your Belgian insurance details)
• List of medications

Attention: please be on time and, if necessary, notify the specialist well in advance if you cannot make the appointment. Time is precious to everyone, and specialists often have long waiting lists. The chance of getting a new appointment quickly is therefore small.