Pregnant

Are the costs of childbirth reimbursed by your hospitalisation insurance?

Almost every mum and dad asks this important question. Rest assured: once you are affiliated through your employer to a hospitalisation insurance the costs of childbirth are reimbursed in most cases. Only in limited cases there are limits such as a waiting period after a new affiliation.

Before … 

Important choices have to be made about which hospital you want to give birth in and in which room type you want to recuperate afterwards. The hospital and the room type (e.g. single or double room) have a significant impact on the bill for the delivery. In this way a natural birth cost in Belgium in 2015 an average of 186 to 1356 euros. In addition, the cost of a single room is often a multiple of that for a double room, and giving birth in Brussels is appreciably more expensive than in Flanders or Wallonia, with bills of more than 3000 euros being no exception. So check carefully in advance what your hospitalisation insurance covers. The fee and room supplements for a single room will be reimbursed only if the insurance covers the cost of a single room. Otherwise, you must pay these supplements yourself.

Once the hospital and room type have been decided on, it is time to inform your hospitalisation insurance of the arrival of your little one. Don't wait till a few weeks before delivery, but do so from 2 months before your calculated due delivery date.

If you are pregnant, you will probably visit the gynaecologist and your general practitioner for months before giving birth.  Maybe you will need certain medicines. Medical costs associated with childbirth are also eligible for reimbursement by your hospitalisation insurance if incurred within a certain period prior to delivery. Depending on your insurance this period is usually one or two months.

During … 

On the day of your admission everything takes place as with a normal hospital admission. The costs incurred during your stay will be itemized in your hospitalisation bill that will be sent only 2 to 3 months after your stay.

… and after the birth 

Once back home, you will of course want to recover as soon as possible from your insurer the medical expenses incurred, and you are advised to immediately affiliate your new-born baby to your hospitalisation insurance.

• Reimbursement of medical expenses 
  
  When you think of medical expenses, you think mainly of the hospital bill. In most cases this is reimbursed almost entirely. Only the so-called 'miscellaneous expenses' such as special meals, rooming-in for the father and baby care products fall outside the coverage.
  
  You hospitalisation insurance will also cover medical costs for a certain period before and after the delivery. These can include the costs of your general practitioner, gynaecologist and physiotherapist, as well as the purchase of medicines in pharmacies.
  
  Full information on the reimbursement of costs associated with a hospital stay can be found here.

• Affiliating your baby to your hospitalisation insurance
  
  Once you've got your strength back, don't wait to think of your child's future.  In every case affiliate your baby to your hospitalisation insurance. Do this within 3 months of returning home. In this way your baby will be affiliated without medical formalities or waiting time.

The information about how to use your hospitalisation insurance for childbirth is for general purposes only. For more details and information about how to claim a refund from AG Employee Benefits for your child birth, go to the "I'm pregnant" page.