What does being contracted mean?
Health care providers and health insurance funds agree annually or biennially on rates and reimbursement for medical care. Physicians and other health care providers are not required to join the rate agreement (convention). There are three options.
- Contracted health care providers.
They accept the agreement and charge the agreed upon rates. They do not charge supplements. - Partially contracted health care providers.
They adhere to the rate agreement at certain times or places. At other times or places, they are free to charge supplements. - Non-contracted health care providers.
They do not follow the agreement with the health insurance funds and may always charge supplements.
If you as a patient have special requirements, contracted healthcare providers may exceptionally charge you supplements. The medical department or health care provider will inform you in advance.
How do I know if my healthcare provider is contracted?
You have the right to know in advance whether your doctor is contracted or not.
- Don't hesitate to ask for more information when you make an appointment.
- We also list contract status on the doctor pages on this website. Find your doctor here.
- You can also look up the contract status of doctors via the touch screens in the central reception (entrance 11).
- You can look up the contract status of any licensed health care provider in the INAMI-RIZIV application.
What are supplements?
A non-contracted or partially contracted doctor may charge you an additional amount on top of the fee. He may also charge an additional amount on technical services such as an electrocardiogram, cast or ultrasound.
Such supplements are not reimbursed by health insurance. How much they amount to varies depending on the department and doctor. Don't hesitate to ask for more information when you make an appointment.
Good to know
- You have the right to choose your own doctor. So you can always ask for a consultation that does not require you to pay for supplements.
- Specialist-doctors in training do not have a doctor's page on this website. They always work at convention rates under the supervision of a staff member.
- Your doctor's contract status has nothing to do with the quality of care.