Thanks to the third-party payment system, you only pay your share of the costs to the healthcare provider (doctor, dentist, physiotherapist, pharmacist, etc.). In that case, your health insurance pays the allowance provided by them directly to the hospital. This way you don't have to pay the hospital and don't have to forward any certificates for the assistance provided to your health insurance.

If you are entitled to an increased allowance, you yourself pay less for consultations, medicines, hospitalization, etc. The price for the care provided remains the same, but the health insurance provides a higher intervention in that case. Thus, the personal share for the patient with an increased allowance is lower.

In some cases, you are automatically entitled to an increased allowance. In other cases, you have to apply for it with your health insurance company. You can easily check whether you are entitled to an increased allowance. On the sticky note from your health insurance, there is a six-digit code. If the third digit is a 1, you are entitled to an increased allowance.

A health care provider who is not accredited may charge a supplement. If you are entitled to the increased allowance, you still have to pay that charged supplement. The only way to avoid having to pay supplements is to switch to a conventional health care provider. (List of convention statuses at St. Trudo Hospital)

More information on the conditions of increased reimbursement can be found on the NIHDI website. 

Would you like more information about this?

• Website NIHDI
• Folder from the VPP (Flemish Patients Platform) Glossary for hospital costs

This means that the health care provider will fully inform you or your representative about the proposed procedures, treatments, tests and the financial implications of that choice. After you receive this information, you will be asked to give your consent to start it. Sometimes you give that consent in writing; sometimes this is done verbally. Giving your consent means that you have received all the information before making your decision.

The paramedical professions are recognized health professions in Belgium. This means that they may perform actions related to the diagnosis or treatment of a patient, but they do not make a medical diagnosis themselves. They often work under the prescription and/or supervision of a doctor, pharmacist or dentist. 

Examples of paramedical functions: physical therapists, occupational therapists, speech therapists, ...

Every patient has to pay a share of the nursing price for each day of stay in the hospital. This share is set by law, is the same in all general hospitals and is not dependent on room choice.

Copayment or personal share is the amount you pay yourself for your admission or doctor's visit. This means the health insurance fund does not reimburse this piece.