Health care abroad
In the Netherlands, we are generally all aware of what is or is not covered by health insurance. What exactly is the situation abroad?
Everyone is obliged to take out health insurance. It is then important to choose a health insurer that best suits your needs and wishes.
If you regularly stay abroad, it is extra important to be careful when choosing a health insurer so that you are not faced with unexpected costs. Often, people do not give this enough thought.
The most common reasons for choosing a particular health insurer are the coverage of the basic insurance and/or supplementary insurance, the service of the health insurer or the level of the insurance premium.
If you stay abroad for a longer period of time or regularly and your health insurer does not have a contract with your healthcare provider or you do not have a restitution policy, chances are that part of your medical expenses will not be reimbursed.
Natura policy:
- The invoice, which you will receive from your healthcare provider after payment, will be submitted to your healthcare insurer.
- If your healthcare provider has a contract with your health insurer, the invoice will be settled directly with your health insurer.
Refund policy:
- You choose your own healthcare provider. The care is 100% reimbursed.
- Following payment, you will receive an invoice from your healthcare provider and submit it to your health insurer.
- If your healthcare provider has a contract with your health insurer, the invoice will be settled directly with your health insurer.
- Abroad, costs are reimbursed up to a maximum of the Dutch rate.
We do not have a contract with your healthcare provider:
If we do not have a contract with your health insurer and/or the UZOVI code does not match and/or you do not have a refund policy, you can still be helped by us. You should then pay the invoice to the care provider immediately after the consultation. However, part of the care costs may not be reimbursed afterwards. This is because the health insurer may apply a discount to the amount of your reimbursement. For a consultation with a GP, these costs are not so high, but if you need specialised care, the costs will be much higher.
If you regularly or long-term stay abroad, choose your healthcare package carefully to avoid surprises. We advise you to choose a restitution policy in any case. Then you can be sure that your healthcare costs will be reimbursed up to the maximum rate applicable in the Netherlands.
We have a contract with your health insurer:
All health insurers have a unique insurer identification code, the UZOVI code (4 digits). Check that the UZOVI code of your health insurance listed on your insurance card matches that of the health insurer with whom we have a contract.
- You then do not have to pay in advance and declare your invoice afterwards.
- We can bill directly to your health insurer.
According to existing European rules, you are entitled to a refund in the country where you received the care, on presentation of your European Health Insurance Card. You can get reimbursement from the local mutual health organisation abroad according to local rules and rates. However, you usually have to pay the doctor and pharmacist yourself, and then apply for reimbursement of the costs. Do keep all certificates and proofs of payment.
The new European directive offers new possibilities, because when applying for reimbursement in Belgium, it no longer matters whether you received the care from a public or private healthcare provider or institution. However, you must always first pay the full amount yourself. Upon your return to Belgium, you submit the invoice to your health insurance fund, which will reimburse the costs according to Belgian rules and rates.
In case of urgent hospitalisation, it is better not to pay the hospital bill, even if you are sometimes asked to do so. In case of urgent hospitalisation, always contact Mutas, the medical travel assistance service of your health insurance fund.