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Global medical record

In a global medical record (GMR), the general practitioner easily keeps detailed medical information about their patients. A global medical record is not mandatory, but it is recommended. It allows you to pay a lower co-payment for your visits to the GP.

What are the benefits of a global medical record?

If you have a global medical record opened:

  • your general practitioner can optimally monitor your health, avoiding duplicate or unnecessary examinations and costs.
  • your general practitioner can refer you appropriately for specialised medical care.
  • you receive a reduced co‑payment and pay less for your visits to the GP.

In some cases, a global medical record is necessary for diabetes patients to receive reimbursement for a self‑regulation rehabilitation program.

Do you already have a global medical record opened with your general practitioner? Check it right away in your file.

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How do you open a global medical record?

Ask your GP to manage your medical records.

A recognised general practitioner can easily open your global medical record. During a consultation or home visit, ask your GP to manage your global medical record. You don’t need to do anything else.

Is your doctor part of a group practice?

You can also open a global medical record with a doctor who is part of a group practice. A group practice is a form of voluntary collaboration between two or more doctors who work at the same location. The only difference compared to GPs with their own practice space is administrative.

You pay an administrative cost.

The general practitioner charges a cost per calendar year, but that amount is fully reimbursed by your health insurance fund. Your GP can renew your global medical record directly with your health insurance fund. This way, you don’t have to advance the payment.

Also open a global medical record for your children.

Anyone can ask their general practitioner to open a global medical record. The GP can also open one for your child or children.

Globaal Medisch Dossier

Good to know

The fact that your general practitioner manages your global medical record does not mean that you cannot consult another GP or change doctors. You are free to entrust your global medical record to another GP. Your ‘new’ GP must then request your global medical record from your ‘previous’ GP.

Practical questions and answers

The fact that your general practitioner manages your global medical record does not mean that you cannot consult another GP or change doctors. You are free to entrust your global medical record to another GP. Your ‘new’ GP must then request your global medical record from your ‘previous’ GP.

You have the right to consult your global medical record. Your general practitioner is expected to provide you with sufficiently clear information about your state of health.

You can ask your GP for a copy of your global medical record. If the doctor is willing to provide a copy, you pay the copying costs. Note that the copy is intended for personal use only.

The GP may refuse to grant you access to your file if they believe you would not be able to handle the information about your health. In that case, they must record the reason for the refusal in your file. If you still want to know what is in your record, you can involve another doctor as an intermediary. He or she can request information from your GP and share the relevant details with you.

With a global medical record, it is under certain conditions possible that you pay less in co‑payments. The co‑payment is the amount you pay yourself for a consultation.

You receive a reduced co‑payment until 31 December of the second calendar year after the opening or renewal of your global medical record:

  • For each consultation in your GP’s practice, you pay a lower co‑payment (= the amount you pay yourself for a consultation, meaning the difference between the fee and the reimbursement). Anyone over 75 years old, or anyone who meets the medical conditions for the care allowance, also benefits from this reduction during a home visit by the GP.
  • When referred to most medical specialists, you receive a co‑payment reduction of 5 euros or 2 euros (with increased allowance) on top of the fee. Your GP will give you a referral form indicating the specialty.
  • The reduction applies only once per specialty per calendar year for a specialist (accredited or not) in internal medicine, neurology, psychiatry, neuropsychiatry, paediatrics, cardiology, gastroenterology, pulmonology, rheumatology, dermatology and venereology, gynaecology, ophthalmology, urology, stomatology, geriatrics, endocrinology, and ENT.
  • The reduction does not apply to certain specialties such as surgery, radiology, clinical biology, …

The co‑payment reduction applies at the GP who manages your global medical record or at colleagues who have access to your record. Home visits also include visits by a GP to people:

  • in a residential home for the elderly
  • in a nursing and care home
  • in an institution where children, elderly people, convalescents or persons with disabilities reside

You do not receive a co‑payment reduction for home visits in the evening, at night, during weekends or on public holidays.

Benefits and reimbursements

If you want to stay healthy and feel your best, you deserve that little bit extra. That’s why we offer a wide range of additional benefits and reimbursements, just for you.

Dentalia Up

Protect your family against the high cost of dental care. Get up to €4000 in reimbursements for your dental care, including braces, crowns, implants and more.

Social Work department

Information, support and advice on care solutions and financial support. You can count on the experts at Helan’s Social Work department.

Care Fund of Helan Independent Health Insurance

Every year, you’ll receive an invitation to pay the care contribution for the Flemish Social Protection. This contribution helps provide a care budget for people who need extra support.