Belgium is one of Europe’s most charming countries, combining beautiful cities with the tranquil countryside and welcoming smaller towns and villages.
The country also boasts a strong, high-income economy and is one of the world’s most powerful trading nations, both as an individual state and within the European Union, while living standards and quality of life there are also very high.
Due to these factors, Belgium is an increasingly popular location for global citizens who are relocating for work, education, or family reasons.
If you’re planning on living in Belgium, you should consider taking out international health insurance cover.
Renowned as one of the best in Europe, the healthcare system in Belgium is split between public and private sector provision. Both the federal government and Belgium’s regional governments have responsibility for administering and maintaining healthcare across the country.
Public healthcare in Belgium is funded by a combination of social security and mandatory health insurance contributions, which are paid out of citizens’ regular salaries. Contributing to the system entitles Belgian citizens to subsidised, but not free, healthcare services including doctor and hospital appointments, dental care, medical care, and any prescription medicines.
Due to the public healthcare system in Belgium offering subsidised rather than free healthcare, many Belgians choose to complement their social security and health insurance contributions with private health and medical insurance plan. State subsidies for prescription costs are usually only around 20% of the total cost, while the doctor and hospital costs will be subsided for anything between 50% - 75% of the overall cost.
If you are moving to Belgium to work, you are required to sign-up to make social security and state health insurance contributions. If you have been making contributions to a public social security or healthcare system in your current location prior to moving to Belgium, try to have proof of this information when you relocate.
This is important, as although anyone making contributions to the system can access public healthcare, you may not qualify for subsidised treatment during your first six months in the country unless you can show you have been making social security contributions in your home country or elsewhere.
Although Belgium provides excellent public healthcare, it may still be worth taking out a private health insurance plan, enabling you to get care quicker and ensure more of your costs are covered.
An international health insurance package could take additional stress out of being ill in an unfamiliar country.
Our health and medical insurance plans start from as little as EUR 25 per month for our WorldCare Plan, which will cover you for any in-patient and day-patient care you require while living in Belgium, and may prove especially useful if you require on-going, long-term treatment for a condition. You can also get our more affordable SimpleCare plan that gives cover for big medical events. Prices start at EUR 22 per month.
Our more comprehensive plans will also provide options for dental and maternity care when you need them.
Join thousands of Now Health International members and take out international health cover today.
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