The wonderful health care benefits of Belgium
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If I were an American, I would be loving Hillary Clinton just about now simply because of her comprehensive health care proposal that, even though a bit steeper on the pocket, is designed to benefit the entire populace. No man left behind, goes the grave motto of the Marines; I see in Senator Clinton’s health care plan the same spirit of providing adequate health care for everyone.
I am not an EU citizen. Neither am I a North American, Australian, or Japanese. As a citizen of the third world, I am almost always stopped at airport immigrations whenever I travel to the first world. This is just one of a thousand woes I have to deal with simply because the stars decreed that I be born in a country that still has a long way to go towards providing amply for its people.
The stars were aligned quite neatly when my husband was granted a scholarship by the Catholic University in Leuven some years back, with the opportunity for his wife and children to live with him while he completed his studies under their Family Regrouping Law. When my son and I followed my husband to Belgium, I was not thinking of the possible health dilemmas we could encounter while living abroad, this in spite of the fact that I am quite sickly and used to spending well over $25 a week (quite a lot for our local currency and my job as a teacher) in medicines and medical fees.
As residents of Belgium, I can say that we’ve been very blessed with all the benefits available to us, and I will enumerate some of them:
- 70-80% reimbursement of regular doctor’s check-ups and prescribed medication;
- 85% coverage for hospital and professional fees upon giving birth to my second child;
- 100% comprehensive coverage in case of accident or any medical ailment while traveling outside of Belgium.
My husband’s grant means that he is automatically enrolled into the university’s selected mutuality and my children and I are counted as his dependents. In the years we’ve lived in Belgium, I have fractured my knee, given birth, taken my children to the emergency room of hospitals, have had extensive dental work done, and bought many different kinds of medicines for every imaginable ailment. My husband teases me that I’ve maxed out our mutuality and all I can say is, “It’s in the system, so I just use it!”
This article explains more fully the benefits available to foreigners who settle in Belgium. As a young mother and asthmatic, I can say that Belgium is a wonderful place to give birth and seek medical attention. The benefits are in place, all you need to do is know what they are and avail them when needed. Aren’t we just plain lucky?
Science-mom says...
Indeed, we are very lucky to be living in Western Europe and enjoy the healthcare system. An American colleague of mine came over to Germany to study for 2 years. During her stay, she had a serious blood disorder that required bone marrow transplant. Everything was paid by the German healthcare system. That was 7 years ago and she still lives (and now works) in Germany. She can never reside in the US again because due to her medical history, she isn`t insurable in her home country. Imagine what will happen if she goes into remission. Isn`t it sad that that her health forces her into unwilling expatriation?
MrsH says...
Oh my gosh, R, that is a shocking and sad story indeed.