International students
As an international student, you have a lot to deal with: a new country, a foreign language and a different kind of healthcare system. Helan keeps everything simple.
You enjoy your student days to the full, while Helan has your back.
Studying in a new country is an adventure that stays with you forever. You'll meet new people, discover inspiring places and enjoy a world of experiences. Of course, there is also some administration involved, such as getting your health insurance in order.
Fortunately, Helan Independent Health Insurance helps you step by step with getting started in the Belgian healthcare system. We make sure everything is arranged correctly, explain clearly what your rights are and take over a large chunk of the administration from you. What is more, our advantages are so numerous that you can enjoy your student days with peace of mind.
Did you enter an Erasmus+ exchange project as an EU student? Then it is also useful to know you that can also find a lot of information about studying abroad on the official website of the European Union.
Living and working in Belgium
As an international student, you should go through all the information in order to make an informed choice.
Health insurance fund: how it works in Belgium
Everyone who lives or works in Belgium is a member of social insurance system. This system allows the government to reimburse a large portion of your health expenses, such as a doctor's visit, hospitalisation or a visit to the pharmacy.
But this reimbursement does not happen automatically. To arrange this, you need a health insurance fund like Helan as a link between you and the government:
- Helan pays you back after a doctor's visit.
- Helan registers you in the Belgian healthcare system.
- Helan gives you advice and guidance on questions about medical expenses, certificates or insurance.
- Helan also offers you additional advantages such as discounts on sports, wellness, glasses, mental healthcare and preventative care.
The Belgian healthcare system explained for you
Statutory health insurance
This is the government's compulsory insurance that is arranged through your own health insurance fund. This statutory health insurance enables you to get reimbursements for such things as doctor's appointments, costs for medication and treatments with the physiotherapist. However, benefits on the basis of incapacity to work or long-term illness are also covered by statutory health insurance.
Additional advantages
Each health insurance fund offers additional advantages on top of the statutory minimum, which come in very handy. The advantages with Helan include:
- Reimbursement for sports activities or fitness subscription
- Discounts on wellness and health products
- Contributions for glasses or lenses, mental healthcare and preventative care
Additional insurance
These insurance products are optional, but offer great peace of mind.
- Hospitalisation insurance: protection from high costs in case of hospitalisation.
- Dental insurance: contribution for dental care, orthodontics and routine check-ups.
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:
Consulting a doctor as an international student
Are you sick or in need of medical attention? Then make an appointment with a general practitioner (by phone or online). In Belgium, you choose your own doctor, although some doctors are temporarily not accepting new patients. Fortunately, in cities with large student populations, you will find many group practices close to student halls and campuses. During the visit, the doctor will examine you and may prescribe medication or treatment. You pay immediately after the consultation.
Contracted or non-contracted
- Contracted doctors follow official, agreed rates. So you never pay more than necessary.
- Non-contracted doctors may charge their own fee supplements. As a result, your consultation may turn out more expensive.
Not sure whether your doctor is contracted? You can find the contracted status on the website of the National Institute for Health and Disability Insurance (NIHDI).
E-certificate or paper doctor's bill
Most general practitioners work with a digital doctor's bill known as the eAttest (or e-certificate). The doctor will then send proof of your consultation directly to your health insurance company. This means you don't have to submit anything, Helan automatically sends the reimbursement to your account.
If you are a member of a Belgian health insurance fund such as Helan, then your general practitioner is probably using the eAttest.
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 (Boomsesteenweg 5, 2610 Wilrijk) or via a Helan letterbox near you.
Full amount or third-party payer arrangement
Third-party payer regulations determine how much you pay at the doctor's. If your doctor applies that arrangement, he or she will charge most of it directly to your health insurance fund. You pay only the non-reimbursable portion of medical expenses, which is usually only a few euros.
In other cases, you first pay the full amount (about €25 to €35).
- If your doctor works through the eAttest, reimbursement will follow automatically.
- In the case of a paper doctor's bill, submit it as explained above.
Picking up your medication at the pharmacy
After your visit to the doctor's, you will be given a prescription for medication. In Belgium, this is issued on presentation of:
- A Belgian identity card or an isi+ card with a Helan-branded adhesive stamp from Helan
- A diplomatic document with a Helan-branded adhesive stamp
In either case, you can go to the pharmacy without a problem. The reimbursed portion of your medication is settled immediately there and you pay only the non-reimbursable portion.
What if you don't have any of these documents?
No problem. In that case, you will have to pay the amount in advance and ask your pharmacist for a BVAC certificate ('BVAC-attest') or an appendix 30 document. You use this to request your reimbursement from Helan afterwards. You should post the original copy to Helan Onafhankelijk ziekenfonds, Boomsesteenweg 5, 2610 Wilrijk.
Hospitalisation for an examination or treatment
Sometimes a visit to a doctor is not enough and you need to go to the hospital for an examination or treatment. In Belgium, hospitals usually work directly with your health insurance fund, so you don't have to pay everything in advance yourself.
On admission to the hospital, 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 showing the portion paid by Helan and the personal share (non-reimbursable portion) that you still have to pay yourself.
With hospitalisation insurance from Helan, you have extra cover; it also reimburses expenses not covered by basic insurance, such as a single room, additional tests or follow-up care.
Going on holiday abroad
If you are planning a trip within the EU, always take your European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) with you. You easily apply for one digitally via the My Helan app or order a hard-copy version if you allow enough time.
In case of a medical emergency, call Mediphone Assist on +32 2 778 94 94. This helpline is available 24/7.
Returning home after your studies
When your study or internship in Belgium over and you are ready to return home, make sure you contact us. We will update your medical records.
If you live in an EU country, we will provide you with an E104 document. This summarises all your insurance, working and residence periods in EU member states.
Get free advice about joining
Thinking Helan is right for you? That's great! Joining is easy: simply provide us with your details using the link below and we'll set up an appointment to arrange signing up with Helan Health Insurance Fund, Helan Care Fund or Hospitalia or Dentalia Up additional insurance.
What do you need to join Helan as an international student?
- A completed membership form
- Your European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) or a bilateral document (if applicable)
- A copy of your international passport, identity card, residence permit or visa
- A study certificate indicating that you are enrolled at an accredited university of applied sciences or academic university
Your membership depends on your personal situation
If you have an EHIC or a bilateral document We will enable you to join for the period of your studies so that you can count on urgent medical care in Belgium in case of emergency.
If you do not have an EHIC or a bilateral document
- Are you domiciled in Belgium and no longer insured abroad?
We will sign you up as a resident, this insures you in the same way as other residents of Belgium. - Are you domiciled abroad and do not have a residence permit or document?
You will be granted student status and pay a quarterly fee.
If you expect to receive residence documents later, we can sign you up as a normal member and reimburse any overpaid contributions.
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 190 euros for youth activities
Up to 50 euros for orthotic insoles
Free Heyo holiday camp for children
aged 3, 6 and 9
Up to 50 euros for glasses and eye patches
Up to 30% discount on Heyo holiday camps
Affordable childminder when your child is sick
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.
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.
- The eAttest (e-certificate) is the digital version of the paper doctor's bill. If your doctor works with the eAttest, the proof of your consultation is sent directly to your health insurance fund digitally. You don't have to submit anything yourself, and Helan automatically sends the reimbursement to your account.
- If you still get a paper doctor's bill, just send it to Helan, with a white adhesive stamp on it.
When you visit a doctor or go to hospital, the health insurance fund pays most of it directly to the healthcare provider.
You pay only the non-reimbursable portion, which is usually only a few euros. The amount depends on the type of treatment and whether your doctor applies the third-party payer arrangement.
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