Living and working abroad
Are you considering an international professional opportunity? Even when you work abroad, Helan remains your personal advisor. Depending on the country and the context, you will need to arrange certain matters to remain optimally protected with your health insurance abroad.
Moving abroad
The search for an international adventure always starts with a number of administrative tasks. If you move abroad, you must report this to the population department of the municipality where you are registered, no later than the day before your departure.
Even if you live abroad, you can remain affiliated with Helan, if you remain subject to the Belgian Social Security system:
- You keep employment in Belgium
- You keep a replacement income in Belgium (sickness benefits, unemployment benefits, paid time credit)
- You have a Belgian pension
If you do not meet these conditions, your file with Helan will be closed.
Regardless of your situation:
Always notify us of your departure abroad via My Helan. You can do this by updating your legal address and selecting “move abroad” as the reason.
If you do not yet have a legal address at the time of your move, please contact us for assistance (customer – health insurance fund – my health insurance file – report departure abroad).
If you meet any of the above conditions, the following situations may apply:
After receiving your change of address, we will provide you with an S1 form. With this form, you and your family are entitled to healthcare in your country of residence. Please submit this document to a health insurance institution in your new country of residence. Thanks to this document, that country grants you access to all care under the same conditions as its own insured persons.
Do you currently have a benefits file with Helan? The incapacity for work service will be informed of your move if you report it via My Helan. This allows us to schedule appointments with the medical advisor closer to your home.
Are you going to live outside the EEA or Switzerland? Then it is important to check whether Belgium has an agreement with this country in terms of health insurance.
A. Countries with which Belgium has an agreement
Belgium has concluded agreements on health insurance with some countries. These include:
- Albania
- Algeria
- Bosnia and Herzegovina
- Morocco
- Montenegro
- Serbia
- Tunisia
- Turkey
After receiving your change of address, we will provide you with a convention form. With this form, you and your family are entitled to healthcare in your country of residence. Please submit this document to a health insurance institution in your new country of residence. Thanks to this document, that country grants you access to all care under the same conditions as its own insured persons.
Do you currently have a benefits file with Helan? The incapacity for work service will be informed of your move if you report it via My Helan. This allows us to schedule appointments with the medical advisor closer to your home.
B. Countries with which Belgium has no agreement
After receiving your change of address, your insurance with Helan remains active. However, Helan can no longer intervene for medical costs in your country of residence. You are therefore advised to take out a private insurance in your new country of residence.
As you remain subject to the Belgian Social Security system, you are required to remain affiliated with a Belgian health insurance fund. You will therefore continue to pay contributions to Helan. As a result, you will still benefit from reimbursements for medical care carried out in Belgium.
Do you currently have a benefits file with Helan? The incapacity for work service will have to close your benefits file.
Working in the EU, EEA or Switzerland
You live in Belgium and are going to work for a foreign employer. In that case, you remain insured through your Belgian health insurance fund, and you must also register with an insurance institution in your country of employment. Your health insurance file therefore continues, with Helan as your personal advisor.
As a result, you are entitled to reimbursement of medical care in your country of employment. You can find more information about travelling and working in Europe on the European Commission website.
For Belgium’s neighbouring countries:
- In the Netherlands, you register with a Dutch health insurer of your choice.*
- In France, you register with a CPAM (Caisse Primaire d'Assurance Maladie) in your place of residence.
- In Germany, you register with a Krankenkasse of your choice.
* Make sure your insurance is arranged within 4 months after the start date of your employment in the Netherlands. If you arrange it later, your insurance will only start from the date of registration. For the period during which you work in the Netherlands without being insured, we cannot provide coverage. It is therefore important to arrange this in time.
In Luxembourg, you register with CNS. They will issue you either an S1 form or a BL1 form.
Your foreign insurance institution can provide you with the S1 form. Please request it from them.
Submit the document online via My Helan. Select 'International form'.
We will provide you with additional information to guide you in your new work situation.
Working outside of the EEA
Belgium has concluded agreements on health insurance with some countries. These include:
- Albania
- Algeria
- Bosnia and Herzegovina
- Morocco
- Montenegro
- Serbia
- Tunisia
- Turkey
You live in Belgium and are going to work for a foreign employer. In that case, you remain insured through your Belgian health insurance fund and must also register with an insurance institution in your country of employment. Your health insurance file therefore continues, with Helan as your personal advisor.
- Register with an insurance institution in your country of employment. This entitles you to reimbursement of medical care in your country of employment.
- Request your bilateral form. Your foreign insurance institution can provide you with the bilateral form. Please request it from them.
- Submit the form to us via My Helan. Select 'International form'.
- Helan will take care of your file. After processing, we will send you a confirmation.
As there is no agreement with these countries, we cannot exchange entitlements. It is therefore best to book an appointment with one of our customer advisors to review your file.
Working as a seconded employee
You officially live in Belgium, but you work abroad for a Belgian employer. In that case, you remain subject to Belgian social security. Your employer arranges this in advance with the NSSO. The NSSO issues an A1 document or Certificate of Coverage. Submit the document online via My Helan and select 'International form'.
Working for an international organisation
Do you work for an international organisation such as NATO or the European Commission? In that case, they are responsible for your medical expenses, as they often have their own health insurance system. If you wish, you can still remain affiliated for the benefits package and our hospitalisation or dental insurance. Submit a certificate of affiliation clearly stating the start date. This can be done online via My Helan, selecting 'International form'.
Cross-border work in Belgium
You work in Belgium and officially live in the EU, the EEA or Switzerland. In that case, you must register with a Belgian health insurance fund so that you receive an S1 or S072 form for the insurance institution in your country of residence. Each health insurance fund arranges reimbursements for care within its own territory.
This can easily be done digitally.
Helan can provide you with the S1 or S072 form.
The Netherlands
Helan sends the S072 form directly to the Central Health Insurance Office (CZ). After that, you must register online yourself and your dependents for the free treaty policy. CZ will then reimburse your healthcare costs in the Netherlands according to their terms and rates.
France
Submit the S1 form to the CPAM of your place of residence. The CPAM will inform you which family members you also need to insure in Belgium and is responsible for reimbursing care in France.
Germany
Submit the S1 form to your Krankenkasse. The Krankenkasse will inform you which family members you also need to insure in Belgium and is responsible for reimbursing care in Germany.
You can find more information about travelling and working in Europe on the European Commission website.
Retired abroad?
Spending your retirement abroad is a dream for many. Are you retired and moving across the border? Remember to inform the Belgian Pension Service and your health insurance fund about your move. We are happy to help you ensure a smooth transition.
Practical questions and answers
Declare your incapacity for work in Belgium within the legal deadline via declaration. For this, request a certificate from your treating physician in your country of residence. Submit this certificate to Helan in due time.
Please note!
Do you live in the Netherlands? Then report your incapacity for work immediately to the UWV in the Netherlands via T. 0900 92 94 or +31 888 982 001.
France and Germany
Have your treating physician complete a certificate of incapacity for work. Submit this certificate to the insurance institution in your country of employment. Take into account the declaration deadline that applies in your country of employment.
The Netherlands
Inform your employer. Your employer will tell you which rules apply in case of illness.
When you go to work abroad as a parent, you may retain your entitlement to the child benefit package (Groeipakket). However, your children must remain officially registered in Belgium.
For this specific situation, please contact one of the five approved child benefit payers (www.groeipakket.be), such as MyFamily.
