Urgent medical care
For European citizens
European citizens who need essential medical care must have a European Health Insurance Card (EHIC). This card proves that you are entitled to the necessary urgent health care if you are temporarily abroad, in other words, in a country other than the one where you live.
- Everyone who has social insurance in one of the EU member states, Norway, Liechtenstein, Iceland or Switzerland is entitled to a European Health Insurance Card. You can request one from your health insurer.
- The EHIC is not valid for scheduled consultations, treatment, tests or hospitalisation.
With the EHIC, you enjoy the same (financial) conditions as Belgian insured persons. This means you pay a percentage of the costs yourself (beforehand).
For non-European citizens
Non-European citizens who need urgent medical help need to have one of the two documents below:
- Valid payment guarantee from an insurance company
- Valid documentation of a bilateral agreement between Belgium and the country of insurance for citizens of countries on the list below
Belgium enters into social security agreements (e.g. necessary urgent health care) with third countries, and documentation is also available for these to prove that insurance cover exists in that third country. With these country-specific documents, you enjoy the same (financial) conditions as Belgian insured persons. This means you pay a percentage of the costs yourself (beforehand).
The countries concerned are:
- Albania
- Algeria
- Bosnia-Herzegovina
- Macedonia
- Morocco
- Montenegro
- Serbia
- Tunisia
- Turkey
The documents are not valid for scheduled consultations, treatment, tests or hospitalization, but are valid only for urgent medical care.
If you do not have either of these documents
In that case, you will pay an advance, the amount of which will vary depending on the treatment costs. These costs must be paid before the treatment begins. You pay for the care yourself when you register at UZ Brussel. This can be done by credit card (MasterCard, VISA) or debit card. You will immediately receive a proof of payment, and later the final invoice for your medical care. Do not hesitate to ask for a cost estimate.