Mutualiteit Reimbursement for Therapy in Belgium
What the supplementary insurance of the six Belgian mutualities reimburses for psychotherapy and body-oriented work.
Dit artikel hoort bij: Building a Practice as a Therapist in Belgium
How the System Works
Every Belgian citizen is required to be affiliated with a mutualiteit for statutory health insurance. In addition, mutualities offer supplementary insurance, automatically included with CM and Solidaris, optional with others. This supplementary insurance reimburses services that fall outside the statutory nomenclature, such as psychotherapy by non-contracted providers, physiotherapy, alternative medicine, and specific prevention.
What is Reimbursed for Psychotherapy and Body-Oriented Work
- CM (Christelijke Mutualiteit): typically 10 euros per session, max 12 sessions per year, for members of recognized professional associations.
- Solidaris: 10 to 20 euros per session, depending on the region, for psychotherapy and certain body-oriented therapies.
- Liberale Mutualiteit: up to 10 euros per session, often with a cap of 50 to 100 euros per year.
- Onafhankelijke Ziekenfondsen (Independent Health Insurance Funds): variable, often linked to preferred partners.
- Neutrale Ziekenfondsen (Neutral Health Insurance Funds): similar conditions to CM, with regional variation.
- HZIV (Hulpkas voor Ziekte- en Invaliditeitsverzekering, Auxiliary Fund for Health and Disability Insurance): more limited offerings, primarily medically oriented.
Important: amounts and conditions change annually. Always refer to the current information from the mutualiteit itself on your website instead of stating fixed amounts.
What This Means for Your Positioning
Membership in a recognized professional association (BVRGS, VVPT, BFP, or a somatic registration such as the SEI-register for Somatic Experiencing) is a prerequisite for reimbursement with almost all mutualities. Investing in membership often pays off because your clients do not have to bear the full cost themselves. Mention on your website which mutualities clients can contact, with a link to their current conditions.
Common Mistake
Promising how much a client will receive back exactly. Mutualities revise conditions annually, and they vary regionally. Phrase it more gently: 'Partial reimbursement may be possible through supplementary insurance with various mutualities. Please check with your own mutualiteit before our collaboration.'
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What documents should I provide to clients for reimbursement?
A dated proof of payment or invoice with your name, VAT exemption statement Article 44, your professional association number, and the date of the session. The client must submit this to their mutualiteit.
Do I need to apply to each mutualiteit separately to be recognized?
No. Almost all mutualities automatically recognize members of certain professional associations. The list used varies by mutualiteit. Check with your professional association or call the medical department of the mutualiteit for clarification.
What if my client is not with a Belgian mutualiteit?
Foreign clients (e.g., Dutch people who regularly travel to Belgium for sessions) usually cannot claim reimbursement through a Belgian mutualiteit. Refer them to their own health insurance provider.
Bronnen en verdieping
- RIZIV: Eerstelijnspsychologische zorgOfficiële RIZIV-informatie over de conventie en deelnemende zorgverleners.
- FOD Volksgezondheid: Erkenning klinisch psycholoogVoorwaarden en procedure voor erkenning als klinisch psycholoog in België.
- BVRGS: Belgische Vereniging voor Relatie- en GezinstherapieBeroepsvereniging met kwaliteitsregister voor systemisch en lichaamsgericht werk.
- VVPT: Vlaamse Vereniging voor Procesgerichte PsychotherapieVereniging met focus op procesgerichte en ervaringsgerichte therapie.