1. Accommodation costs
The cost of your hospital stay depends on the legally required personal contribution (co-payment) and the type of room you choose.
Legally required personal contribution (co-payment)
Most of the cost of your hospital stay is covered by your health insurance fund. You pay a fixed amount per day of hospitalisation for your stay and care.
The exact amount depends on your insurance status and is determined by law.
If you are entitled to the preferential rate, your legally required personal contribution is always €7.03 per day.
For children or other dependants, the legally required personal contribution is:
- €34.30 for the first day
- €7.03 per day from the second day onwards
Are you long-term unemployed? Then the legally required personal contribution per day for you and your dependants is:
- €34.30 for the first day
- €7.03 from the second day onwards
Are you ordinarily insured and do you have a dependant? Then your legally required personal contribution and that of your dependant per day is:
- €47.08 for the first day
- €19.81 from the second day onwards
- €7.03 from the 91st day onwards
Are you ordinarily insured and have no dependants? Then your legally required personal contribution per day is:
- €47.08 for the first day
- €19.81 from the second day onwards
If your health insurance coverage is not in order, you must pay the full cost of the hospital stay yourself.
Room choice
When you are admitted, you can choose between a single room and a shared room.
- If you choose a single room, you will pay a surcharge, which includes a room supplement and possibly a higher fee for the doctor.
- If you choose a shared room, there are no additional costs beyond the standard rates.
Your room choice affects your invoice. Discuss this with your doctor when planning your admission.
2. Flat fees
When you are admitted, a fixed cost is charged for certain services, even if you do not actually use them.
For each day of admission, you pay €0.62 for reimbursable medicines.
Ordinarily insured patients pay €7.44 per admission for this flat rate.
If you are entitled to increased reimbursement from your health insurance fund, you do not pay anything for this item.
Ordinarily insured patients pay €6.20 per admission for this flat rate.
If you are entitled to increased reimbursement, you pay €1.98 for this.
Ordinarily insured patients pay €16.40 per admission for this flat rate.
If you are entitled to increased reimbursement, you pay nothing for this.
3. Pharmacy costs
Medicines and medical devices not covered by the flat rate are charged separately. This includes:
- Medicines
- Prostheses
- Implants
- Other medical devices
Depending on the product or material, the costs may be fully or partially at your own expense. Ask your doctor about the expected costs.
4. Fees
All doctors and recognised care providers charge a fee for medical services as defined by the NIHDI (RIZIV/INAMI). The largest part of these costs is covered by your health insurance fund. You only pay the legally required personal contribution (co-payment).
Low-variability care
For certain procedures and treatments that show little variation between patients and hospitals, a fixed fee has been set. This financing system is called low-variability care (LVC) or the global payment system with standardisation (GPS system).
On your invoice, procedures covered by this system are listed under the category “global financing.”
Supplementary fees
Supplementary fees are at your own expense. They are only charged if you choose to stay in a single room. At UZ Leuven, the maximum supplementary fee is 150% above the base amount.
5. Other supplies
These include blood, plasma, blood derivatives and plaster materials. These are charged separately.
6. Patient transport
This section of the hospital invoice covers both emergency and non-emergency transport.
7. Miscellaneous costs
Non-medical costs incurred during your stay — such as phone calls, nappies or a haircut — fall under miscellaneous costs. These are fully at your own expense.
You can find the price list for non-medical costs in the admission declaration.
8. VAT
As of 1 January 2022, the VAT rules for hospitals have been extended. As a result, more services and activities carried out in the hospital are subject to VAT at UZ Leuven.