BBZ - You receive a Dutch benefit or pension

You will be covered under health insurance in the Netherlands. You must register with a Belgian health insurance fund using form E121, which you can obtain from the Dutch Health Care Insurance Board (CVZ).You must submit the E121 to your health insurance fund.

You can receive medical care in Belgium. The health insurance fund will reimburse the costs according to the rates applicable in Belgium. The health insurance fund will then be reimbursed by the Netherlands. 

You can also receive medical care in the Netherlands. You do not need permission from the Belgian health insurance fund for this. Agis Zorgverzekeringen will reimburse the costs of the care. As from 1 January 2012, you can use the European Health Insurance Card EHICto receive care in the Netherlands. With this card, the care provider can settle the costs of treatment directly with Agis. You can obtain the card from the CVZ.

Zvw health insurance contribution for non-residents

You have to pay the Zvw contribution for non-residents to the CVZ. This contribution will be deducted by your pension or benefit agency. The contribution for non-residents consists of three parts:

• the fixed contribution of € 107.58 per month;
• the income-related Zvw contribution of 7.1% (regular rate) or 5.0% (reduced rate) over a maximum of € 50,064 per year;

• the income-related AWBZ contribution of 12.15% over a maximum of € 34,055 per year (if you were born before 1 January 1946) or € 33,863 (if you were born after 31 December 1945).

As the cost of healthcare varies between different countries, each part of the contribution is multiplied by a so-called "country of residence factor". For Belgium, the factor is 0.6827 (2011) and 0.6760 (2012). 

You may be able to get a healthcare allowance from the Tax Administration, Belastingdienst/Toeslagen. This is a contribution towards the costs of your health insurance. To receive a healthcare allowance, your income must not be higher than € 35,059 per year, or € 51,691 if you live with a partner.

Paying contributions in Belgium

In Belgium, you pay a contribution called 'lidgeld' to your health insurance fund. The amount of the contribution varies between health insurance funds. It will be between € 5 and € 8 per month. You do not have to pay an income-related contribution in Belgium on your pension or benefit from the Netherlands.

In addition, you can take out supplementary hospitalization insurance in Belgium to reduce the costs in the event of admission to hospital. This contribution varies between health insurance funds.

Pension or benefit from both the Netherlands and Belgium

If you live in the Belgium and you receive a benefit or pension from both the Netherlands and Belgium, you will be covered under health insurance in Belgium. You must register with a Belgian health insurance fund. You will only pay contributions in Belgium, not the Netherlands.