West Flanders Connects with Care Looking After Each Other
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West Flanders connects with care Looking after each other. In Belgium, quality healthcare is a Table of contents universal right. However, the system 01 Basic models of healthcare systems P04 differs from other countries with 1. Free market economy model 2. Beveridge model a mixture of public and private 3. Bismarck model options, which is why it’s important 4. National health insurance model to know what services are available in West Flanders and how you can 02 The Belgian healthcare system P06 1. Who can access healthcare in Belgium? access them. 2. Healthcare costs 3. Health insurance 4. How to register for healthcare in Belgium as an expat 5. Private healthcare 6. Doctors and medical specialists 7. Women’s healthcare 8. Children’s healthcare 9. Dentists 10. Hospitals 11. Health centres and clinics 12. Pharmacies 13. Mental healthcare 14. Other forms of healthcare available in Belgium 15. In an emergency 16. Characteristics of the Belgian healthcare system 03 West Flanders, P18 International Ambassador 1. AZ Sint-Jan 2. AZ Groeninge 3. AZ Delta 4 - Basic models of healthcare systems Basic models of healthcare systems - 5 01 Basic models of healthcare systems 1 3 Free market Bismarck model economy model – Financed jointly by employers and employees through – Out-of-pocket expenses payroll deductions – Used in the USA (however, 10% of the population – Health insurance plans have to cover everybody and doesn’t have any insurance) as well as in most can’t make a profit developing countries – Healthcare providers are often private – Refund and pay-in-kind system 2 – Used in Belgium, Germany, and the Netherlands Beveridge model – Funding is provided from general 3 resources (by means of taxes) – Infrastructure, healthcare policy and National health management are the government’s responsibility insurance model – The NHS in the UK is an example – Canada uses a combination of the Bismarck of the Beveridge model and Beveridge models 6 - The Belgian healthcare system The Belgian healthcare system - 7 1 Who can access healthcare in Belgium? Healthcare is accessed through health insurance to subsidised public healthcare. People who don’t in Belgium. If you live and work in the country, you have access to subsidised public healthcare, must register for social security in Belgium and however, must take out private insurance to cover make health insurance payments to have access any health treatment they have. 2 Healthcare costs Belgium spends 10% of its annual GDP on Public healthcare in Belgium is funded by a healthcare expenditure, according to 2016 figures combination of health insurance and social (https://www.healthybelgium.be/-report 2019). In security contributions. Residents have to pay for fact, this places it ninth out of all EU and European the remainder of unsubsidised care. Free Trade Association (EFTA) countries. Health insurance funds cover: 02 The Belgian – 50-75% of the costs for doctors, hospitals, and clinics healthcare – Approximately 20% of prescription costs system – Basic dental costs – Maternity costs Unemployed residents, pensioners, students, and people with disabilities are entitled to the same subsidies as the working population. Employees receive The Belgian healthcare system is one of the best regional Flemish, Walloon, and German-speaking automatic cover for their children as well as any dependent spouses. in Europe. It is divided into public and private communities all have their own administrative sectors, with fees payable in both. The public healthcare divisions. Their responsibilities include system is funded by mandatory health insurance preventive health (e.g., Kind en Gezin/Child and which allows residents to access subsidised Family), care for disabled persons, homecare services such as doctors, hospital care, dental and elderly policy (planning and facilitating), care, maternity costs, and prescriptions. mental healthcare, primary care, healthcare Both federal and regional governments are professions, and quality procedures in hospitals. responsible for healthcare in Belgium. The federal Belgium ranked fifth in the 2018 Euro Health state is responsible for social security and Consumer Index (published 2019-02-25) with the funding of healthcare, as well as providing “perhaps the most generous healthcare system advice on health policy and monitoring the in Europe”. However, Belgium scored lower than situation via the Federal Public Service for Health, the top-ranking countries in terms of outcomes. Food Chain Safety and the Environment. The 8 - The Belgian healthcare system The Belgian healthcare system - 9 3 5 6 Health insurance Private healthcare Doctors and medical As part of the social security enrolment months after joining a health insurance fund, Private healthcare in Belgium runs alongside specialists process, all employees and self-employed unless you are able to prove that you paid public provision. Some doctors, dentists, and people must register and contribute to a health sufficient social security contributions in your specialists provide both public-funded and Most doctors in Belgium work within insurance fund in Belgium (mutuelle in French home country. If you hold a European Health private treatment. This means it is important to the public Belgian health insurance or ziekenfonds in Dutch). Residents are free Insurance Card (EHIC) you can use it until check upfront what your public insurance will scheme, while some combine this to choose their own health insurance fund. you register with a health insurance fund. cover if you don’t have private coverage. with private appointments or work entirely in the private sector. Health insurance contributions are 7.35% You can compare quotes from Belgian health To use private healthcare in Belgium, you will of gross salary (3.55% from your salary and insurance funds to select a provider. Companies need to take out private medical insurance or You can choose your own general 3.8% paid by your employer). Self-employed providing international health insurance pay the full costs. Most private health insurers practitioner (GP) in Belgium, although if workers pay the full 7.35% themselves. coverage to expats include: Allianz Care, require you to pay your medical costs upfront they work in both the public and private Cigna Global, Globality Health, and Partena. and then make a claim for reimbursement. sectors make sure it’s clear which service It is important to note, however, that you may you want. Patients usually pay the doctor not qualify for reimbursements for the first six As public healthcare in Belgium is subsidised upfront and then get a refund later from rather than free, many residents choose to their insurer. It is also possible to see take out private insurance to top up their public a medical specialist without a doctor’s coverage and give them access to private referral, but it will be cheaper if you do 4 healthcare treatment. so through your GP/family doctor. How to register for healthcare in Belgium as an expat In order to access healthcare in Belgium, your employer will do this for you. If not, expats need to register for social security visit your nearest social security office. then select a health insurance fund. Often Expats must provide some documentation: – Valid ID such as a passport – Residence permit – Proof of address such as a recent utility bill Once registered, you will receive a social security card (eID, formerly known as Carte SIS) to take to the health insurance company of your choice. Healthcare charges are then reimbursed by your health insurance fund. 10 - The Belgian healthcare system The Belgian healthcare system - 11 7 Women’s healthcare To confirm a pregnancy in Belgium, first visit your working in both public and private practices; your GP. In the Flemish community, antenatal care is GP will be able to give you advise on your choice. carried out by doctors alongside gynaecologists Contact the Office de la Naissance de l’Enfance and obstetricians in private practices. Kind en (ONE) for detailed advice and information. Gezin (Child and Family), the Flemish welfare Contraception is available over the counter in agency for children and families, offers free advice Belgium, including emergency contraception. and support to pregnant women and families with Terminations are legal up to 12 weeks after children under three years old. conception and can be carried out at family In the French community, antenatal care is mainly planning centres and hospitals. carried out by gynaecologists and obstetricians 8 9 Children’s healthcare Dentists Residents with health insurance can access Belgian dental care is included under the either free or subsidised healthcare for their public healthcare system, where patients can children in Belgium by registering your child claim reimbursements for check-ups and basic with your GP. Support is provided by the regional treatments. However, most dentists work privately, agencies Kind en Gezin (Flanders) and ONE and treatment not covered under basic health (Wallonia), which provide services such as: pre- insurance can be expensive. 11 natal support, medical check-ups and screenings For this reason, many people in Belgium take out by a paediatrician, free vaccinations, weight private dental insurance to cover these costs. and measurement to monitor development, You need to have at least one annual check-up to Health centers and clinics hearing and eye tests. The vaccinations program maintain your public health coverage. includes shots for diseases such as polio, Belgium has primary care centres (maisons Family Planning Centres (FLCPF) are Belgium’s diphtheria, tetanus, whooping cough, measles, médicales in French or wijkgezondheidscentra version of family clinics, providing information and mumps, and rubella (MMR). in Dutch) where different healthcare providers services on sexual and maternal health in Wallonia and professionals operate. These include and Brussels. However, there are no family planning GPs, nurses, and physiotherapists. Patients centres in Flanders. An alternative is Sensoa, 10 can register with a centre to access services which provides expert advice on sexual health, covered by public health insurance.