Belfius Insurance SA/NV
Belfius
Belfius is a travel insurance for the Belgium market with online purchase and 24/7 assistance.
Direct payment
The insurer can advance hospitalization costs abroad when necessary and forwards the invoices for reimbursement by the insured's mutual fund. Outpatient/ambulatory medical costs are generally reimbursed afterwards, upon presentation of the original statement from the mutual fund together with copies of invoices.
Geographic scope
Worldwide for the 'Assistance to persons' and 'Baggage insurance' guarantees; the 'Vehicle assistance' guarantee is valid in the countries expressly listed on the vehicle's international insurance certificate.
Belgium is defined as Belgium plus a 30 km radius beyond the Belgian border; abroad is the rest of the world except a list of excluded high-risk countries/regions (North Korea, Iran, Syria, Venezuela, Belarus, Crimea, the Russian Federation, Myanmar, Afghanistan, and Ukrainian regions annexed by Russia), plus countries subject to a general travel ban.
Unique selling points
- The optional Boost formula doubles all reimbursement ceilings, advances and expenses covered under the Assistance to persons guarantee.
- Search and rescue costs abroad are covered up to EUR 7,500 per insured person per claim.
- A 24/7 assistance centre is reachable worldwide by phone to organise and take charge of medical assistance.
- A free telemedical advice service lets insured persons consult the insurer's medical team by phone about infections, pathologies or treatments.
- The 'Pour ma famille' formula extends assistance cover to the policyholder's household and to their children living elsewhere in Belgium.
Coverage limits
Medical expenses abroad
Covered
Medical and hospitalization costs incurred abroad due to illness or accident are reimbursed after deduction of the mutual health fund's intervention, only for the portion exceeding EUR 20. If the insured is not affiliated with a Belgian mutual health fund (or is not in good standing), cover is capped at EUR 1,250 for all medical costs. Dental care is capped at EUR 250 and kinesitherapy at EUR 125 per insured person per claim. The Boost option extends cover in Belgium after repatriation up to EUR 7,000.
Emergency medical treatment abroad
Covered
Only in Assistance aux personnes
Local transport abroad to the nearest doctor or hospital to receive first aid, and ambulance costs prescribed by a doctor for a local trip, are covered as part of the medical expenses guarantee.
Hospitalization abroad
Covered
Only in Assistance aux personnes
Hospitalization costs abroad are covered under the medical expenses guarantee, subject to the EUR 20 deductible per claim and the EUR 1,250 cap if not affiliated with a Belgian mutual fund. The insurer can advance hospitalization costs if necessary; the insured must notify hospitalization the same day or within 48 hours at the latest. Cover ceases once repatriation can take place if the insured refuses or postpones it.
Outpatient treatment abroad
Covered
Only in Assistance aux personnes
Outpatient medical costs abroad are covered under the general medical expenses guarantee. Prior agreement of the assistance centre is required for reimbursement, except for outpatient medical costs below EUR 250.
Emergency dental care abroad
€250
Only in Assistance aux personnes
Dental care costs abroad are reimbursed up to EUR 250 per insured person per claim, as part of the medical expenses guarantee.
Local medical transport abroad
Covered
Only in Assistance aux personnes
Local transport abroad to the nearest doctor or hospital for first aid is covered, as well as organisation of transport in connection with treatment and repatriation.
Medical evacuation / repatriation
Covered
Only in Assistance aux personnes
When the insured's health condition abroad, following an illness or accident, requires transport or repatriation, the insurer organises and covers transport to the home or to the nearest or best-equipped hospital, by sanitary plane, economy-class plane, ambulance or any other appropriate means, under medical supervision if required. The decision on repatriation and the mode of transport belongs exclusively to the insurer's medical service.
Repatriation of mortal remains
Covered
Only in Assistance aux personnes
If the heirs of an insured person who died abroad choose repatriation of the body to Belgium, the insurer organises and covers repatriation of the remains to the chosen place of burial in Belgium (including customs costs) with no stated maximum; post-mortem treatment and coffining in Belgium are covered up to EUR 750 per deceased insured. If burial or cremation takes place abroad instead, post-mortem treatment, coffining, local transport and burial/cremation costs are covered up to EUR 750 per deceased insured. Funeral ceremony costs and urn repatriation are not covered.
Search and rescue costs
€7,500
Only in Assistance aux personnes
In the event of a situation endangering the insured's safety or physical integrity, the operating costs of an official search and rescue service are covered up to EUR 7,500 per insured person per claim. At sea, reimbursement of official search and rescue costs applies only within territorial waters.
COVID-19 treatment
No limit stated
The sources only mention that the free telemedical advice service can address questions about a possible infection, including covid-19; no specific covid-19 treatment cover or exclusion is stated.
Pre-existing conditions
Excluded
Known pathological conditions existing before departure that are still being treated and present a real danger of rapid worsening, or that have not been stable for at least two months before the trip, are excluded, as are relapses or worsening of an existing pathological condition.
Winter sports cover
Conditional
Only in Assistance aux personnes
In the event of bodily injury on ski slopes, transport to the nearest hospital and official search costs (up to EUR 7,500, not cumulative with the general search and rescue guarantee) are reimbursed. Accidents off the marked ski slopes are covered only if the insured was guided by an instructor from an approved organisation. Unused ski-pass or ski/diving lesson costs following a physical incapacity confirmed by a local doctor are reimbursed pro rata, up to EUR 250 per insured person.
Adventure / extreme sports cover
Excluded
Accidents and events caused by the following activities are excluded from cover: hang-gliding, paragliding, bobsleigh, parachuting, bungee jumping, mountaineering, rallying, rafting, canyoning, ultralight aircraft, jet-skiing and speleology.
Pregnancy complications
Excluded
Delivery costs are excluded, as are costs resulting from a pregnancy of more than 28 weeks for air travel, unless written authorisation has been given by the (treating) gynaecologist and confirmed by the airline's doctor.
Personal liability
Excluded
Belfius' travel assistance product (Belfius Assistance / Personenbijstand, both the Basis and Boost formulas, as well as the optional Bagageverzekering) does not include personal civil liability (burgerlijke aansprakelijkheid) cover while abroad. The official product page and IPID list the covered guarantees (medical costs, repatriation, extended stay, search & rescue costs up to €7,500/person, luggage, legal assistance vs. travel agency up to €1,250, etc.) but personal liability abroad is not among them; third-party independent comparison confirms 'Burgerlijke aansprakelijkheid in het buitenland' is marked as not covered for all three Belfius travel packages.
Legal assistance abroad
Covered
Only in Assistance aux personnes
If the insured faces legal proceedings abroad following an unintentional offence, the insurer advances the criminal bail required by the authorities up to EUR 12,500 per prosecuted insured (repayable within 30 days) and covers lawyer's fees abroad up to EUR 1,250. Separately, the insurer defends the insured's rights against the travel organiser/agency, covering costs and lawyer's fees up to EUR 1,250.
24/7 assistance centre
Covered
Only in Assistance aux personnes
The assistance centre is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week (+32 2 286 70 00) to organise and take charge of assistance services in Belgium and abroad.
Key conditions
Assistance call deadline
A claim must be reported to the assistance centre as soon as possible and in any case within 7 calendar days of the event; full details needed to assess the claim must be provided within 30 days.
Unauthorized treatment
Assistance, expenses or services only give right to reimbursement if the assistance centre was informed beforehand and gave its agreement, except for outpatient medical costs below EUR 250. If the service was not organised by, or provided without the authorisation of, the assistance centre, cover is refused — unless the insured could not call because they were taken care of by an ambulance or the vehicle was towed on police order, in which case the insurer intervenes based on supporting documents.
Purchase while abroad
The available documentation does not specify conditions for purchasing this policy while already abroad.
Chronic conditions
Relapses or worsening of an existing pathological condition are excluded, as are known pathological conditions in treatment before departure that present a real danger of rapid worsening or that were not stable for at least two months before the trip.
Pregnancy
Delivery costs are excluded. Costs resulting from a pregnancy of more than 28 weeks are excluded for air travel, unless written authorisation is given by the treating gynaecologist and confirmed by the airline's doctor.
Pre-existing condition exclusions
Known pathological states existing before departure, still in treatment and presenting a real risk of rapid deterioration, or not stabilised for at least two months prior to travel, are excluded from cover.
Coverage duration limit
The guarantees apply only during the first 90 days of a trip or stay abroad; events occurring afterwards are not covered unless a separate extension has been agreed.
source_url
https://www.belfius.be/common/FR/multimedia/MMDownloadableFile/GeneralConditions/assistance.pdf
Policy specifics
Unlimited medical expenses abroad
Reimbursement of unlimited medical and hospitalisation expenses incurred abroad (subject to mutual insurance deductible)
SourceMedical repatriation to Belgium
Organization and coverage of medical transport and repatriation to Belgium if necessary due to illness or accident
SourceExtended stay reimbursement
Reimbursement of additional accommodation expenses if immobilized for more than 48 hours abroad
SourceBaggage theft and loss coverage
Coverage for loss or theft of baggage abroad including replacement baggage delivery
SourceBOOST formula (optional enhancement)
Optional enhancement that doubles all reimbursement limits, advances, and expenses covered by assistance guarantee
Source90-day per-trip coverage limit
Coverage applies only to the first 90 days of each individual trip abroad
SourceMedical expenses abroad – deductible and non-affiliation cap
Medical/hospitalization costs abroad are reimbursed after deduction of the mutual fund's intervention, only for the part exceeding EUR 20. If not affiliated to a Belgian mutual fund (or not in good standing), total reimbursement is capped at EUR 1,250.
SourceMutual insurance affiliation required
Policyholder must be affiliated with a Belgian mutual insurance (health fund) for medical expense coverage abroad
Source7-day claim notification requirement
Claims must be reported to assistance center within 7 calendar days of incident
SourceHigh-risk activities exclusion
Coverage excludes mountaineering, rock climbing, skydiving, paragliding, helicopter use, and similar extreme sports
SourceKnown pre-existing conditions exclusion
Coverage excludes medical circumstances and illnesses known to insured person at time of departure from home
SourceTravel ban exclusion
Coverage excludes countries/regions where government has issued general travel ban or ban on non-essential travel
SourceTrip cancellation not included
Standard Assistance & Medical product does not cover trip cancellation or interruption costs
SourcePrior approval for assistance required
Assistance must be requested with prior agreement from center (except for ambulance services)
SourceFamily coverage formula available
Coverage can be extended to cover all family members living under insured's roof plus children living elsewhere in Belgium
SourceReimbursement cap without Belgian mutual fund affiliation
If the policyholder is not affiliated with a Belgian mutual health fund (or an equivalent health insurance), or has not complied with its rules (e.g. unpaid contribution), the insurer's intervention for all medical costs abroad is limited to a maximum of EUR 1,250.
Source