Health insurance for international students in Belgium
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.
More about the health insurance fund
Everyone who lives or works in Belgium is covered by social security. This system ensures that the government reimburses a large part of your healthcare costs, for example for a visit to the doctor, a hospital stay or a trip to the pharmacy.
However, this reimbursement is not automatic. For that, you need a health insurance fund like Helan.
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
Hospital admission
Sometimes a visit to the GP isn’t enough and you need to go to hospital. In Belgium, hospitals usually work directly with your health insurance fund, so you don’t have to pay everything upfront.
When you’re admitted, you’ll need to show your identity card or residence permit. This allows the hospital to immediately see that you’re affiliated with Helan. After your stay, you’ll receive a hospital bill showing the part covered by Helan and the personal contribution you still need to pay.
Travelling abroad
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.
Returning home after your studies
Has your study programme or internship in Belgium come to an end? Ready to head back home? Be sure to get in touch with us. We’ll make sure your medical file is in order.
Do you live in an EU country? Then we’ll provide you with an E104 document. This summarises all your insurance, employment and residence periods within 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
Get your insurance online.
Are you completely won over? Getting insurance doesn’t have to be a hassle. Simply fill in your details to join Helan Health Insurance Fund or Care Fund immediately. Or get additional policies such as Hospitalia and Dentalia Up.
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.
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