Medical care abroad
When travelling outside of Bonaire, Saba and Statia, you are not insured for medical expenses (Please note: Curaçao, Sint Maarten and Aruba are also considered abroad). Unless you are in need of an urgent medical intervention that cannot wait until your return. This is why ZJCN urgently advises you to take out a travel insurance before you leave your island of residence.
When are you insured?
You are insured for emergency medical assistance abroad if:
- The situation is so serious and urgent that you cannot wait until you return to your home island.
Please note: only the initial, acute treatment is reimbursed. Follow-up treatments and other healthcare are not included in this cover.
What is not reimbursed?
The insurance does not cover expenses for:
- Non-urgent complaints (e.g. a visit to a GP or pharmacy),
- Return journey or extended stay due to illness,
- Repatriation in the event of death,
- Loss of luggage or valuables.
What should you do in an emergency abroad?
- Report the emergency situation as soon as possible to ZJCN (or have someone do so on your behalf) via info@zorgverzekeringskantoor.nl or call +599 715 8899 (Bonaire), +599 318 3379 (St. Eustatius), +599 416 3552 (Saba).
- Ensure that ZJCN receives a medical letter evidencing the urgency.
- The medical team of ZJCN assesses the situation and informs you by email whether the healthcare is reimbursed.
How does the reimbursement work?
- You first pay the health expenses yourself.
- You can then claim the expenses with ZJCN.
- The reimbursement is equal to the maximum usual rate for this healthcare on your BES island. If that rate is not available, ZJCN applies the standard compensation rate for the treatment on the BES islands. If that rate is also not available, a suitable rate within the Dutch market is considered.
- Please note: no guarantee letter is issued, no advance payment is made, and you are not entitled to daily reimbursement.
Did you receive medical assistance and was it an emergency? In that case, ZJCN can reimburse the costs under certain conditions.
You submit your expenses in one go, bundling all invoices together, in accordance with the procedure. You can submit your claim with this form.
Claiming medical costs
Claiming medical costs
DownloadClaims
Welcome home!
Have you incurred medical costs abroad?
Which medical costs will ZJCN reimburse?
- emergency assistance; accident, acute life-threatening condition, hospital admissions,- provided ZJCN is contacted.
Or:
- medical costs related to Article 10, paragraph 4, based on a referral by your doctor and only after ZJCN’s prior permission;
When can I claim?
Best is: as soon as possible.
- Take note!: invoices older than 12 months will not be processed.
- ZJCN assesses your claim and makes the payment to you. You pay the medical bills yourself.
- With ZJCN approval, Article 10, paragraph 4, medical costs are reimbursed afterwards only, so you must pay your chosen care provider yourself.
- The sooner you submit a claim, the sooner we can respond.
Which documents do I need?
Each claim must include the following documents:
- a fully filled in and signed claims form;
- an explanation in your own words;
- guarantee letters, or the reason why you don’t have them;
- in the event of illness abroad: a medical statement from the foreign doctor and proof of contact with ZJCN;
- the original medical bills;
- Additionally, with Article 10, paragraph 4, the original payment receipts and the letter of referral from the doctor or GP.
What are the criteria for medical claims?
- you were registered with the healthcare office (ZJCN) when the costs were incurred;
- in the event of illness, an accident or a hospital admission abroad, you did contact ZJCN and submit proof of this with your claim;
- separate claims are required for each family member;
- Incomplete or unsigned claim forms will not be processed.
- For Article 10, paragraph 4: medical costs are only reimbursed if ZJCN gave prior permission.
What other things do I have to bear in mind?
Review your details!
Are your name, address, telephone number and bank account number correct? This is important for money transfer and contact by ZJCN about your claim.
Make an appointment with your healthcare office to submit your claim.
Your processed bills and receipts will be returned to you right away.