Healthcare in Belize: no CAK, an NHI that only buys primary care, and your own policy
Belize is not a treaty country for healthcare: when you emigrate your Dutch basic insurance stops and there is no CAK scheme. Belize's National Health Insurance buys primary care from affiliated clinics, for $ 2 per consultation, but only for people with a valid Social Security card. A QRP member or visitor does not have one, and so arranges a policy themselves.
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Belize is not a treaty country for healthcare. The CAK, which arranges health insurance for pensioners in treaty countries, does not list Belize. So when you emigrate your Dutch basic insurance stops, and no CAK scheme takes its place. In Belize itself the National Health Insurance (NHI) buys primary care, but only for people with a valid Social Security card. Anyone who comes with the QRP or as a visitor arranges a policy themselves.
What covers what?
| Scheme | For whom | What it covers | What you pay |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dutch basic insurance | stops on emigration | ||
| CAK scheme | only in treaty countries; Belize is not one | ||
| NHI | with a valid Social Security card, registered with an NHI clinic | primary care, chronic care, generic medicines from the national formulary | $ 2 per consultation; 10% for certain services, not for people over 60 and children under 5 |
| Own policy | everyone | what the policy says | premium |
Why does your Dutch insurance stop?
Anyone who emigrates and no longer has Dutch income is, according to the Belastingdienst, no longer insured for the national insurance schemes. You then also lose your right to the Long-term Care Act (Wlz). You pass your moving date to your health insurer, writes NederlandWereldwijd. In a treaty country the CAK then takes over, with an S1 form for a local insurer. Not in Belize. See cancelling health insurance without a gap.
The Netherlands and Belize do have a social security agreement, since 1 April 2006. It covers cash benefits, such as the AOW. It says nothing about medical care. See AOW, pension and tax.
What is the NHI?
The NHI was set up in 2000 through an amendment to the Social Security Act and started in 2001 with a pilot in the South Side of Belize City. The south followed in 2006, Corozal in 2015. The NHI buys a fixed package of care from affiliated clinics, public and private. The list of clinics names places from Belize City and San Pedro to Dangriga, Punta Gorda, Belmopan and Cayo. The NHI itself writes that stable funding for a national roll-out is the biggest challenge.
The package includes primary care, detecting and treating high blood pressure and diabetes, generic medicines from the national formulary, eye care for the elderly, and imaging available in Belize, except an MRI.
Can you join the NHI?
Only with a valid Social Security card, for you and for everyone living with you. The Social Security Board issues that card to people with permanent residence or a temporary permit, such as a work permit or a dependent permit. The SSB then validates your address, and you register your family with an NHI clinic.
The QRP card and the visitor's extension are not on the Social Security Board's list. If you come with the QRP, you therefore have no access to the NHI and from the day you leave the Netherlands you rely on a policy you take out yourself. Make sure it starts on the day your Dutch insurance stops.
What does NederlandWereldwijd say?
The travel advice calls healthcare in Belize limited. Anyone admitted to hospital may need to be transferred to another country. So check whether a policy covers medical evacuation and treatment in a neighbouring country, and whether it also covers the United States or Mexico.
Bring medicines in their original packaging, and check whether you need a medicines certificate. See medicines across the border.
Which examination does your residence route require?
For the QRP you submit a medical certificate with an HIV test no more than three months old. For permanent residence a doctor in Belize completes the examination form, and you submit an HIV, VDRL and TB test, also for family members from age 12. The stamp must be from a hospital or medical centre. See the residence routes.
In Vertrekklaar this is phase 1 of 5 of the journey, step 1.2: the same steps, but for your situation — in your order, tickable, and with the deadlines watched. See the whole journey to Belize or go straight to step 1.2 in the open plan.
What this rests on
The facts in this article come from these official pages. Rules change. When in doubt, go by the source, not this article.
- CAK — the treaty countries for healthcare; Belize is not among them — hetcak.nl
- NederlandWereldwijd — health insurance through the CAK, only in a treaty country — nederlandwereldwijd.nl
- Belastingdienst — no more Wlz and no more Anw after emigration — belastingdienst.nl
- Netherlands–Belize agreement on the export and enforcement of social security benefits (2005), articles 1 and 2 — cash benefits, no care — wetten.overheid.nl
- NHI — its history, from the pilot in 2001 to Corozal in 2015, and the funding — nhi.bz
- NHI — becoming a member in Belize City, with the Social Security card and a primary care clinic — nhi.bz
- NHI — the copayment of $ 2 per consultation and 10% — nhi.bz
- NHI — the affiliated clinics by region — nhi.bz
- Social Security Board — what the NHI covers — socialsecurity.org.bz
- Social Security Board — who gets a Social Security card — socialsecurity.org.bz
- NederlandWereldwijd — travel advice for Belize, with the limited healthcare and medicines — nederlandwereldwijd.nl
- Immigration and Nationality Department — the medical examination and tests for permanent residence — immigration.gov.bz
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