Santé et assurances

In Belgium, employees and freelancers must take out health insurance; it is part of the compulsory liability for social security.

In the case of employees, contributions are directly deducted from their salaries by the employer on behalf of the employee. Freelancers must make voluntary contributions to a social security fund for freelance workers.

You can also become a member of a mutuelle (mutual insurance company) which will reimburse (in part or in full, depending on the type of care given) medical care and the cost of some medicine. You are free to decide which mutuelle suits you best: there are mutuelles of different persuasions: socialist, Christian, liberal and neutral. Some large insurance companies also have a ‘mutuelle’ department.

Joining a mutuelle means you will be reimbursed for part of your medical and dental fees, hospital fees, surgery, giving birth, etc. according to the very strict tariff set for the various types of care provided.

Some mutuelles have their own private hospitals where heath care costs are almost totally reimbursed.

Mutuelles also bear some of the cost of some medicines, when they have been bought on prescription and when the mutuelle’s vignette has been attached¹. 

Unlike medical and dental care, where the (partial) reimbursement is made upon presentation of a document proving the provision, medicine is reimbursed when the purchase is made. There is also ‘supplementary’ (non compulsory) health care insurance, which assumes all or part of the costs which are not reimbursed by the mutuelles.
 

¹  _{A vignette is like a small sticker provided by the mutuelle when you take out insurance with them. The vignette has the name of the mutuelle on it as well as your name, address and identification number and must be affixed to the top of any correspondence with the mutuelle, including reimbursement claims, when it must be attached to the top of the receipt or prescription form.}