Frequently Asked Questions
What’s the difference between an expat and on secondment/detached (employee on assignment abroad) ?
The major difference between an expat and detached is only about the status concerning social security from home country.
Secondment/detached status applies to employees who continue to contribute to the home country for social security and sent by his employer for a limited period to another country. Consequently you benefit from the same rights and services as in your home country. Please be aware that the secondment period may vary according to the country where you're going (cf. European Economic Area or outside the EEA).
Unlike seconded employees, expatriates do no longer contribute to the home country social security scheme. When an employee is sent abroad, they can be employed under a local contract when the working period exceeds the one fixed by bilateral conventions. In that case, they will be subject to the social security scheme of their host country. The expatriation assignment has an unlimited duration.
What is the coverage of an expatriate insurance?
- Health insurance coverage
You are facing a health issue during your stay ? Your expatriate insurance will reimburse your healthcare expenditure and absorbs certain costs with no cash advance requested from you. - Rapatriation
Insufficient local healthcare facilities ? Your travel insurance will take care of your repatriation. - Liability Insurance
Your are the cause of a damage or harm abroad ? Your insurance will cover all financial costs for your liability in the host country. - Legal protection
Litigation, loss of passport or legal disputes during your stay ? Your travel insurance will cover and protect you legally. - Personal Accident
Any mishap, accident during your stay ? Your travel insurance will compensate you and your relatives in the event of disability or death.
How to choose my expatriate insurance?
According to your status, you can choose for a 100% converage or an additional expatriate insurance.
Expatriate - You are not subject to the social security of your home country
Choose Insurance 1st Euro and choose your protection :
-
- Health Coverage
- Repatriation
- Civil liability
- Legal Protection
- Personal Accident
- Additional options
- Insurance for visual aid
- Dental benefit
- Maternity …
Secondment status
-
- Conditions to benefit from secondment status:
- You have an employment contract with a firm whose head office is in Belgium or in the European Economic Area (EEA).
- You are planning for stay between 6 months to 5 years.
- Your host country must have signed a convention with Belgium
- Benefits ?
- Social security reimbursements of Belgian social security in line with the applicable scale
- No social security premiums to pay in the host country
- Why get an additional expatriate insurance ?
- To complete the Belgian social security coverage.
- To benefit from cash advance in case of hospitalisation or ambulatory health care.
- To cover additional risks (severe illnesses).
- Conditions to benefit from secondment status:
If you are an expatriate affiliated to ORPSS (service of social security for people abroad)
- The ORPSS can offer you to continue your access to the Belgian social security under certain conditions.
- If your host country offers a social security scheme, it may not meet your expectations (minimal pension benefits, incomplete health insurance, ...). Affiliation to the ORPSS will make up for the shortfall in the social security scheme.
- If you have made social security contributions to the ORPSS for the general scheme and to the additional health coverage before your return, you don't need a further stage for re-enroling to a mutual health insurance
When and how to subscribe to my expatriate insurance ?
When to subscribe ?
- Purchase your insurance between 2 months and 3 days at the most before your departure
- Please check that all your medical documentation are in order before suscribing
- The maximum duration for the contract is generally for 12 months renewable
What types of insurance policies are available ?
- Expatriation 1st Euro Insurance
- Additional Expatriation Insurance
- Travel Insurance
The amount of refunds depends on the type of insurance and the deductibles.
How to choose which one to take ?
- Describe your need
- Choose the type and the safeguards that you prefer
- Choose your options and create an online personalised estimate
- Do not hesitate to contact your insurance broker by phone
- Fill in a health declaration form
- Receive an email or postal confirmation
Insurance for young people abroad
What type of insurance policies ara available ?
- Insurance for studying or internship abroad
- Insurance for language-learning stays
- WHV Insurance
- Insurance for Au-Pair
Highlights and benefits of the insurances for young people abroad ?
- Cancellation and delays: Your trip is cancelled or delayed for reasons beyond your control ? Your travel insurance will reimburse and will organise for you new means of transport .
Damage and loss of property ?
- Your property has been lost or damaged during your stay ? Your travel insurance will reimburse the lost or damaged items.
Medical assistance
- You are facing a medical emergency abroad ? Your travel insurance will refund your expenses and will take charge of other some other expenses immediately with no request of cash advance.
Repatriation
- Insufficient local healthcare facilities ? Your travel insurance will take care of your repatriation..
Liability Insurance
- Your are the cause of a damage or harm abroad ? Your insurance will cover all financial costs for your liability in the host country.
Legal protection
- Litigation, loss of passport or legal disputes during your stay ? Your travel insurance will cover and protect you legally.
Personal Accident
- Any mishap, accident during your stay ? Your travel insurance will compensate you and your relatives in the event of disability or death.
When and how to subscribe ?
- You can generally subscribe until the day before you leave .
What does a travel insurance cover?
Cancellation and delays
- Cancellation and delays: Your trip is cancelled or delayed for reasons beyond your control ? Your travel insurance will reimburse and will organise for you new means of transport.
Damage and loss of property
- Your property has been lost or damaged during your stay ? Your luggage insurance will reimburse the lost or damaged items .
Medical assistance
- You are facing a medical emergency abroad ? Your travel insurance will refund your expenses and will take charge of other some other expenses immediately with no request of cash advance. .
Repatriation
- Insufficient local healthcare facilities ? Your travel insurance will take care of your repatriation.
Liability insurance
- Your are the cause of a damage or harm abroad ? Your insurance will cover all financial costs for your liability in the host country.
Legal protection
- Litigation, loss of passport or legal disputes during your stay ? Your travel insurance will cover and protect you legally.
Personal Accident
- Any mishap, accident during your stay ? Your travel insurance will compensate you and your relatives in the event of disability or death
Trip cancellation insurance?
This trip cancellation insurance (sometimes known as trip interruption insurance or trip delay insurance) covers you in the event that you need to cancel, interrupt or delay your trip. The refund will be based on the amount you have paid for the reservation (plane fare, accomodation, car rental...) .
What are the grounds for cancellation in a cancellation insurance?
The risks covered vary from one to other but we will generally find the following terms :
- Inability to leave due to health injury or accident.
- Décès familial.
- Legal or professional constraints : Invitation for university exam, job interview, loss of identity card, job termination.
- Known and foreseeable risks when signing the contract like illness, redundancy,...
- Cases of force majeure : strikes, geopolitical incidents, earthquakes...
- Accidental cancellation : missed train or flight
Important to know
- Cancellation insurance fee is based on a percentage of the travel price.
- You have to subscribe generally in a short timeframe : within 24 to 48h after booking your trip.
- La plupart des assurances annulation contiennent une franchise.
- Most cancellation clauses contain an excess fee.
- The refund is based on non-refundable expenses incurred.
Which are the mandatory vaccinations in Belgium ?
Vaccinations required in Belgium
Basic immunisations are required for each child in Beligum. Here are the diseases : measles, mumps and rubella (MMR), polio, tetanus, diphteria, whooping cough and hepatitis B.
Tetanus : Vaccination for tetanus is essential for all travellers (and even for those not travelling). It is recommended to get a booster to your tetanus vaccine every 10 years.
Diphteria still exists in some tropical and subtropical countries as well as in some countries part of the ex URSS. Therefore a booster dose every year is recommended.
Polio or Poliomyelitis still runs in some countries such as Africa and Asia. The first vaccination is valid for a period of 10 years, a subsequent booster protects the traveller for life. Hepatitis B vaccine is given to all children since 1999. This type of hepatitis may become chronic and is transmitted via contaminated blood (blood transfusion, surgical care, dental care, syringes, piercings, tatoos) or sexual relations. If you’re planning a trip to Africa, Asia or Latin America, hepatitis B vaccination or the booster is highly recommended.
For the mumps, measles and rubella (MMR) vaccine : please check if you’ve been vaccinated during your childhoold. If this is not the case, please consult your family doctor.
Where to get vaccined ?
You’re going to a country at risk ? Please consult your doctor at least 1 month before you leave. He will identify the vaccinations, preventive and curative treatments and any possible contra- indications.
Differences between public and private hospitals ?
In Belgium, it has been proved that there is no difference between the two categories of hospitals in terms of quality. Some hospitals are more specialised in certain fields. Your family physician will give you the best advice and will be the link between the hospital and the medical follow-up at home.
However, there might be significant differences in pricing structures depending on your choice of the hospital and according to :
Your social insurance cover : if you're under the Belgian sickness and invalidity insurance, the hospital will send the invoice directly to your health insurance fund and the costs incurred are paid by the mandatory health insurance. Some remaining charges that you might pay will depend whether you have a conventional status or if you are entitled to an higher reimbursement rate (BIM or OMNIO).
If you are a national of one of the 28 countries in the EU and you have the European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) or if you are convered by another social insurance. The recovery of costs will depend on the nature of your coverage. Please contact your social insurance fund for further information.
The admission to the hospital is a form called "types of room and terms and conditions". This form lists key financial information related to your hospitalisation and will give you information on all the elements that will impact on the final invoice. Therefore depending on your choice of a common room (most often 2 beds) or a private one, the costs will vary greatly. Fixed fees and doctors' conditional fees may also vary. This form is not a quote and will not help you estimate the full amount of the invoice.
Your stay at the hospital
The costs will also vary if doctors are covered by the public health insurance system or not. Therefore it's important to discuss the financial details of the costs with the doctor at the hospital.
Please be aware that in case of hospitalisation, you are required to pay a suitable deposit and to provide proof that you are covered by an appropriate Belgian or foreign insurance fund. Please find out about existing benefits and the possibilities of supplementary charges from your health insurance before your stay !
Choosing your doctor ?
You have total freedom in choosing your doctor. You will find lots of medical centres, houses and polyclinics in Belgium. They mostly pool doctors in general practice or specialists.
Fees charged are fixed by the doctor. Some doctors called "conventionnés" (covered by the public health insurance system) will apply fees related to the amount reimbursed by the Belgian sickness and invalidity insurance. Some doctors will apply high fees. It's strongly advised to get information in advance before making your choice.
Fees will be reimbursed - by the Belgian or by any other health fund you're a member - on production of a certificate from the doctor attesting to the consultation/treatment provided.
Doctors receive patient most often on fixed appointments, from monday morning to friday evening. On evenings and weekends, you will find on-call nursing, medical and pharmaceutical services (please consult www.mgbru.be) and clinics. For home visits, services and rates vary from one municipality to the next. The central call number for Brussels is 02/479.18.18 for general practice on-call doctors. The fees requested are higher than the normal medical consultations.
For dental emergencies : 02/426.10.26
Emergency services at hospitals are for severe medical issues. The central call number is 100.