Seriously ill

​When does an illness become a critical illness? 

Although hospitalisation insurance in principle only intervenes if and when you are hospitalised, most insurance companies make an important exception by reimbursing the treatment of critical illnesses the whole year round. Hospitalisation insurers therefore work with a predefined list of illnesses that are covered under the special critical illnesses guarantee. This list differs from insurer to insurer and usually contains 20 to 30 illnesses such as cancer, leukemia, diabetes and multiple sclerosis.

The treatment costs for illnesses not on the list will only be reimbursed for hospital stays related to the illness.

How does the critical illnesses guarantee operate? 

Most insurers use a similar approach:  

• Diagnosis and application for activation
  To activate the critical illnesses cover, you should start the application process as soon as possible, in writing. To accelerate the activation process, you should provide your insurer advising physician with a medical report drawn up by your general practitioner containing the diagnosis and planned treatment of your illness.
  
  
• End of the cover
  The insurance cover ends when the medical report shows that you are cured and there are no more signs of the illness.
  
  
• Relapse
  If the illness returns after a time, the critical illnesses cover can be reactivated. In that case, the above procedure is repeated.

How do you request the reimbursement of your medical expenses?

You can collect all medical expenses (invoices, certificates,...) in connection with your critical illness and submit them for reimbursement. These can be hospital bills, but also the purchase of medicines or a treatment by a specialist.

Tip: you can ask your sickness fund for a list of the medical costs you have incurred both online and at their branch office.

Would you like some additional information on the critical illness guarantee? Then go to the page "I am seriously ill".

What if you are unable to work for a long period? 

It is possible that your employer has taken out occupational disability insurance for you. This insurance provides an additional income on top of the legally provided benefits.

The waiver of premiums guarantee ensures that the regular payments into your group insurance continue, even if you are away from work for a long time, in which case your employer is no longer obliged to pay premiums. In this way the accrual of your supplementary pension is not endangered.