Ziekenfonds / Mutualité letter explained in English
Health insurance fund. Your health insurance fund. It pays back part of medical costs and pays sickness benefits when you can’t work.
Letters you may get
- Beslissing arbeidsongeschiktheid / décision d’incapacité — whether you still get sickness benefits
- Oproeping adviserend arts / convocation chez le médecin-conseil — a check with their doctor
- Terugvordering / récupération — benefits paid too much
What to do
- Go to the appointment with their doctor and bring your medical papers. If you can’t come, tell them before.
- You can appeal a decision at the labour court within 3 months.
- Find the deadline. Look for “termijn”, “uiterlijk op”, “délai”, “au plus tard le”.
- Write the reference number from the letter on everything you send back, and keep copies.
- If you disagree with a decision, object in writing before the deadline (“bezwaarschrift”, “beroep”, “verzet”, “bezwaar”). See the template.
Words you may see
- terugvordering
- Request to pay back money you got but weren’t entitled to.
- indu
- Money paid to you by mistake that they want back.
Questions
What is the Ziekenfonds / Mutualité?
Health insurance fund. Your health insurance fund. It pays back part of medical costs and pays sickness benefits when you can’t work.
How long do I have to answer a letter from the Ziekenfonds / Mutualité?
It depends on the letter. Look for words like “termijn”, “uiterlijk op”, “délai”, “au plus tard le” — they mark the deadline. In Belgium, a letter sent by post is usually treated as received on the third working day after the date it was sent. Many deadlines, for example 6 months to object to a tax bill, start from that day. To object, the letter usually names the way to do it (“bezwaarschrift”, “beroep”, “verzet”, “bezwaar”).
Can I read a Ziekenfonds / Mutualité letter in English?
Yes. Take a photo of the letter with Briefly. It explains the letter in plain English, finds the deadline and the amount, and gives you ready-made replies in Dutch or French. Your letter never leaves your device.
Other offices in Belgium
FOD Financiën / SPF Finances · Vlaamse Belastingdienst / Brussel Fiscaliteit / SPW Fiscalité · Gemeente / Commune · OCMW / CPAS · RVA / ONEM · VDAB / Actiris / Le Forem · Groeipakket / Allocations familiales · Dienst Vreemdelingenzaken / Office des Étrangers