Social Security Contributions - Flemish Care Insurance
In Belgium, healthcare and social security are managed at the federal level. However, some special laws grant the three communities several competences, such as the “assistance to persons”. On the basis of the Decree of 30 March 1999 (on the organisation of the care insurance), the Flemish Government introduced an additional insurance for non-medical help and services – the Flemish Social Protection – which provides a financial compensation of €130 to people with care needs to cover part of their costs for non-medical care.
The Flemish Social Protection offers financial assistance to people requiring long-term care. Therefore, it differs from the health insurance, which refunds medical costs, and from any other additional insurances offered by health insurance funds (e.g. hospitalization insurance).
Starting from October 2001, the Flemish Social Protection is mandatory for anyone over the age of 25 (i.e. from the year turning 26) and living in Flanders, who is required to pay an annual fee to a healthcare fund. For people living in Brussels, membership is voluntary; those who live in Wallonia or abroad, cross-border workers and international organization’s employees are exempted from joining the Flemish Social Protection insurance (exceptions are possible).
In order to become a member of the Flemish Social Protection insurance, an individual must join one of the 6 recognised care funds in Flanders. Two options are available. First, the care fund offered by the health insurance fund; second, the Vlaamse Zorgkas (Flemish Care Insurance Scheme).
The Flemish Social Protection insurance is financed on a lump sum basis. The annual membership contribution for 2020 is €51. People eligible for a higher health insurance compensation pay a reduced fee.
Table 13.1 reports the annual contributions for the years 2015 – 2019.
Table 13.1: Contributions 2015 – 2019, €/year
|
Contribution/Year
|
2015
|
2016
|
2017
|
2018
|
2019
|
|
Member contribution
|
50
|
50
|
50
|
51
|
52
|
|
Member contribution if eligible for a higher compensation (e.g., pensioners, widows)
|
25
|
25
|
25
|
26
|
26
|
Modelling Assumptions
For people living in Brussels, joining the Flemish Social Protection insurance is a voluntary act. For these people, we do not know who is affiliated with this insurance scheme and who is not. Therefore, we calculate the social contribution to the Flemish Social Protection insurance only for people living in Flanders.
Module output
|
Name
|
Description
|
|
t_ssc_flem_ins
|
amount of the social security contributions due to the Flemish care insurance scheme
|
Chapter 13 Social Security Contributions - Flemish Care Insurance
In Belgium, healthcare and social security are managed at the federal level. However, some special laws grant the three communities several competences, such as the “assistance to persons”. On the basis of the Decree of 30 March 1999 (on the organisation of the care insurance), the Flemish Government introduced an additional insurance for non-medical help and services – the Flemish Social Protection – which provides a financial compensation of €130 to people with care needs to cover part of their costs for non-medical care.
The Flemish Social Protection offers financial assistance to people requiring long-term care. Therefore, it differs from the health insurance, which refunds medical costs, and from any other additional insurances offered by health insurance funds (e.g. hospitalization insurance).
Starting from October 2001, the Flemish Social Protection is mandatory for anyone over the age of 25 (i.e. from the year turning 26) and living in Flanders, who is required to pay an annual fee to a healthcare fund. For people living in Brussels, membership is voluntary; those who live in Wallonia or abroad, cross-border workers and international organization’s employees are exempted from joining the Flemish Social Protection insurance (exceptions are possible).
In order to become a member of the Flemish Social Protection insurance, an individual must join one of the 6 recognised care funds in Flanders. Two options are available. First, the care fund offered by the health insurance fund55; second, the Vlaamse Zorgkas (Flemish Care Insurance Scheme).
The Flemish Social Protection insurance is financed on a lump sum basis. The annual membership contribution for 2020 is €51. People eligible for a higher health insurance compensation pay a reduced fee. Table 13.1 reports the annual contributions for the years 2015 – 2019.
13.1 Modelling Assumptions
For people living in Brussels, joining the Flemish Social Protection insurance is a voluntary act. For these people, we do not know who is affiliated with this insurance scheme and who is not. Therefore, we calculate the social contribution to the Flemish Social Protection insurance only for people living in Flanders.
13.2 Module input
13.2.1 Variables
13.2.2 Parameters
13.3 Module output
13.4 References
[] Joining the Flemish Social Protection. 2020. URL: https://www.vlaanderen.be/en/care-and-family/joining-flemish-social-protection..
[] J. Derboven, Z. Rongé, S. Van Houtven, et al. “EUROMOD COUNTRY REPORT, BELGIUM (BE) 2016 – 2019”. In: n.d. (2019).