First of all, if you have recently found out that you are expecting a baby, congratulations! You are at the beginning of a wonderful journey of love and happiness. But you might also have a lot of questions in mind, especially in terms of healthcare. That is entirely normal. Just remember: your health insurance provider is there to support you every step of the way!
Who and when
If you are working in Belgium, you are allowed a maximum of 15 weeks of maternity leave. Therefore, the first person you should inform of your pregnancy is your employer. You should provide them with a medical certificate attesting that you are pregnant at least 8 weeks before the estimated date of birth. By doing so, you benefit from a specific protection against redundancy.
This is also especially important if your professional activity might involve a danger for you or your child. Your employer might decide for your safety to partially or totally remove you from their workplace.
The second institution that you should inform is your mutualité (ziekenfonds in Dutch). Why? The allowance that you receive during your maternity leave is paid by your mutualité/ziekenfonds. Send us a medical certificate attesting an incapacity to work due to your pregnancy at the beginning of your maternity leave. It should mention:
- The presumed date of childbirth.
- The date from which you will stop your professional activities.
We have your back
Partena Business & Expats is there to help you during your whole pregnancy. We offer you specific advantages and reimbursements to help lighten the costs of your new baby’s arrival: preventive screenings (e.g. Non-Invasive Prenatal Test), physiotherapy sessions, home help, etc.
I’m a happy new mom! Are there any steps left?
Yes. Before you can fully enjoy the joys of motherhood, there are still a few administrative tasks you should take care of.
- Send us as quickly as possible your child’s birth certificate. This document is delivered by your local administration.
- Make sure that your child is registered as a new member on your Partena Business & Expats account.
Whatever the current stage of your pregnancy, we want to congratulate you on this wonderful journey. For further information, contact your local Partena agency! We are there at your side.
