Health insurance for international students in Belgium
Every international student deserves a smooth start in Belgium. Helan is here to help both you and your university or college along the way.
Your best student years, Helan as your safety net
Studying in a new country is an adventure you’ll remember forever. As a student, you’ll meet new people, discover inspiring places and gain loads of experience. Of course, there’s also some administration involved, such as arranging your health insurance.
Fortunately, Helan Independent Health Insurance helps students and their colleges or universities navigate the Belgian healthcare system. That way, every stay in Belgium starts with peace of mind!
Erasmus student?
You can also find useful information about studying abroad on the European Union website.
Helan insurance funds in Belgium and the role of Helan
Do you work in Belgium? Then you are automatically covered by the Belgian social security system. This means your health insurance fund reimburses part of your medical visits, medication and hospital stays.
Choosing Helan? We take care of everything for you. On top of that, you benefit from extra reimbursements and advantages that make life in Belgium easier.
The Belgian healthcare system explained
This is the mandatory insurance provided by the government. Thanks to this statutory health insurance, you receive reimbursements for things like GP visits, medication costs and physiotherapy treatments.
In addition to the statutory cover, each health insurance fund offers extra benefits that are particularly useful for students. Some of the advantages offered by Helan include:
- Reimbursement for sports activities or a gym membership
- Discounts on wellness and health products
- Allowances for glasses or contact lenses, mental health and preventive care
These insurance options are optional, but they offer great peace of mind.
- Hospitalisation insurance: protection against high costs in case of a hospital stay.
- Dental insurance: cover for dental care, orthodontics and routine check-ups.
Anyone who lives or works in Flanders is also required to pay an annual care contribution to the Flemish Care Fund.
The Flemish social protection scheme uses these contributions to support more than 300,000 people in need of care each month with a care budget.
The annual care contribution is not included in your health insurance fund contribution. You pay it on top of your annual contribution.
Do I have to pay the care contribution as an international student?
Helan is a wellbeing group
We support 1,000,000 customers to live autonomously and with a high quality of life as much as possible. We do this through a broad and diverse range of services tailored to each stage of life.
Customers of the health insurance fund have access to the entire Helan Wellbeing Group, which includes the following entities:
Seeing a doctor
Are you feeling unwell or do you need medical care? Then book an appointment with a GP (by phone or online). In Belgium, you’re free to choose your doctor, although some GPs may not be accepting new patients at the moment. In student cities, you’ll usually find plenty of group practices close to student accommodation and campuses.
During your visit, the doctor will examine you and may prescribe medication or a treatment if needed. You pay straight after the consultation.
Collecting your medication from the pharmacy
After your doctor’s visit, you’ll receive a prescription for your medication. You only pay the personal contribution. In Belgium, you can do this by presenting:
- A Belgian identity card or an isi+ card with a Helan sticker
- A diplomatic document with a Helan sticker
- An Annex 30
Read more
A hospital stay
Sometimes a doctor’s visit is not enough and you need to go to the hospital. In Belgium, hospitals usually work directly with your health insurance fund, meaning you do not have to pay all costs upfront yourself.
When you are admitted, show your identity card or residence permit. This allows the hospital to immediately see that you are affiliated with Helan. After your stay, you will receive a hospital bill showing the amount paid by Helan and the personal contribution you still need to pay yourself.
Travelling abroad as a student
Planning a trip within the EU? Always take your European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) with you. You can easily request it digitally via the My Helan app or order a paper version in advance.
Medical emergency? Call Mediphone Assist on +32 2 778 94 94. This helpline is available 24/7.
Back home after your studies
Are your studies or internship in Belgium coming to an end? Ready to return home? Contact us. We’ll make sure your medical file is in order.
Do you live in a European Union country? Then we will provide you with an E104 document. This document summarizes all your insurance, employment and residence periods within EU member states.
Join Helan
Feeling convinced? Great! Joining is quick and hassle-free. Simply share your details via the link below and we’ll schedule an appointment to arrange your registration with Helan Health Insurance Fund, Helan Care Fund, or the additional insurance plans Hospitalia or Dentalia Up.
What do you need to join Helan?
Your EHIC or a bilateral document (if applicable)
Your international passport, ID card, residence document or visa
A certificate of enrolment from your college or university
What benefits can you count on?
Up to 1,500 euros for speech therapy
Orthodontics benefit up to 1,050 euros
Up to 50 euros for sports club or
youth associations
Up to 50 euros for orthotic insoles
Up to 60 euros for glasses
Up to 120 euros for psychotherapy
Practical questions and answers about joining
Everyone who lives or works in Belgium is required by law to join a health insurance fund. This means it is a necessity even for students. However, you are free to choose the health insurance fund that best suits you – for example, Helan.
Helan helps you to get Belgian social insurance sorted quickly so you can go to the doctor, pharmacy or hospital without any worry. We help you step by step with your membership, explain everything clearly and make sure your reimbursements happen automatically.
Plus, you get additional advantages with Helan: reimbursement for sports and wellness, discounts on glasses and mental healthcare, and affordable insurance for hospitalisation or dental care.
You will need the documents below to complete your membership:
- An international passport or identity card
- Proof of enrolment at your university (of applied sciences)
- An address in Belgium (halls or place of residence)
The EHIC applies mainly to short-term stays and urgent care. If you are staying in Belgium for a longer period (for a full academic year, for example), then joining a Belgian health insurance fund such as Helan is highly recommended. This allows you to enjoy full cover and easier reimbursements.
Absolutely! Joining Helan is not only free for EU students, it also allows you to arrange your reimbursements more quickly and efficiently after a visit to the doctor or a hospital stay.
The premium depends on your living and study situation: whether you are from the EU or not and whether you are a working student or not. For most students, it is very affordable and basic insurance is often even free of charge if you have no income in Belgium.
In addition, if your doctor works with the eAttest, the reimbursement will go through Helan automatically, and the money will be in your account within a few days.
- If your doctor uses the eAttest, he or she will send the proof digitally to Helan and you will automatically receive the reimbursed amount in your account.
- If you still get a paper doctor's bill, you should stick a white Helan-branded adhesive stamp on it and deliver it by post or via a Helan letterbox near you.
If you are hospitalised in Belgium, the hospital usually works directly with your health insurance fund, so you don't have to pay for everything yourself.
On admission to the hospital, simply show your identity card or foreign national's card. This allows the hospital to see immediately that you are a member of Helan.
After your stay, you will receive a hospital bill that clearly states what part Helan pays and what part you still have to pay yourself. This is the personal portion or non-reimbursable portion.
If you also have hospitalisation insurance through Helan, then many additional costs will be fully reimbursed, such as choice of room, additional tests or follow-up care.
Hospitalisation insurance is not compulsory, but is highly recommended.
Helan Health Insurance Fund will reimburse most of your medical expenses, but not all. Hospitalisation can result in additional costs, such as for a single room, special tests or follow-up care.
With hospitalisation insurance from Helan, you have extra cover for those unexpected expenses. This means you don't have to pay large sums of money in advance and you can recover without worrying about the costs.
Yes, you can already do a lot of things digitally. For example, via the My Helan app and My Helan Web, you can request advantages, view reimbursements, order adhesive stickers or make an appointment. If you receive only paper doctor's bills, the law requires that you always submit an original in order to get a reimbursement.
Helan will ensure that your file is closed correctly and that you no longer pay unnecessary premiums.
If you still receive a bill from a Belgian hospital or doctor afterwards, Helan will still help you to settle it even after you leave.
Helan also makes dental and hospital insurance affordable
This also allows international students and employees to have extra protection against unexpected medical expenses.
Why choose Helan?
- Affordable and accessible insurance
- Financial security in case of hospitalisation or dental care
- Fast, transparent reimbursement
- Clear explanations in understandable language