Mutuality on Emigration from Belgium 2026: Cancellation, S1 Form and EHIC

What changes in 2026: digital S1 via MyHealth

From January 2026, RIZIV/INAMI rolls out the MyHealth portal for cross-border health-coverage declarations. Belgian residents emigrating to another EU/EEA member state, Switzerland or the UK can request the S1 form (right to coverage in the host country at the expense of the Belgian sickness fund) entirely online — no more paper at the mutuality counter. Processing time drops from 4-6 weeks to 7-15 working days.

Belgium has a dual system: compulsory health insurance is federal under RIZIV/INAMI (Rijksinstituut voor Ziekte- en Invaliditeitsverzekering / Institut national d’assurance maladie-invalidite) financed by social contributions, but each citizen joins one of seven mutualities (mutualiteiten / mutualites): Christelijke Mutualiteit (CM), Solidaris (former Bond Moyson), Liberale Mutualiteit (LM), Onafhankelijke Ziekenfondsen (MLOZ), Neutraal Ziekenfonds, Hulpkas voor Ziekte- en Invaliditeitsverzekering (HZIV) and the Mutualite des Cheminots. They administer reimbursements and the S1 process.

Who keeps Belgian coverage abroad — and who does not

Workers posted by a Belgian employer (EU 883/2004): A1 certificate from FOD Sociale Zekerheid / SPF Securite Sociale + automatic continuation of RIZIV/INAMI coverage. No S1 needed in EU/EEA — show the European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) at the host healthcare facility.

Cross-border workers (frontaliers / grensarbeiders): Working in Belgium, living in France/Netherlands/Germany/Luxembourg. A1 at the employer end. Family members are covered via the S1 as dependants in the country of residence.

Pensioners with a Belgian pension (FPD/SFP): If the Belgian pension is the only or main pension, S1 entitles you to coverage in the new EU/EEA country at Belgian cost. CM, Solidaris, LM and other mutualities continue collecting the senior contribution (about EUR 5-15/month).

Permanent emigrants without Belgian source of income: No S1. Coverage stops on the day the model 8 takes effect. Join the destination country system (e.g. Spanish SNS, Dutch zorgverzekering, French CPAM, Italian SSN).

Self-employed without Belgian clients post-emigration: No S1. Switch to the destination system. If clients are still in Belgium, A1 + S1 may apply.

How to request the S1 in 2026

1. Log into the mutuality portal (MyCM, MySolidaris, MyLM) or directly into MyHealth.
2. Provide model 8 (or proof of intention to emigrate, with date), foreign address, foreign tax number, family composition.
3. The mutuality forwards the request to RIZIV/INAMI, which issues the S1 within 7-15 working days.
4. Register the S1 with the host-country sickness fund: Spanish INSS for Spain, CPAM for France, AOK/TK for Germany, ASL for Italy, SVB for Netherlands, NHS for UK (post-2024 special arrangement).
5. Receive the host-country health card with full local coverage at Belgian cost.

Outside the EU/EEA: what to do

The S1 only applies in EU/EEA, Switzerland, UK and a small number of social-security treaty countries (Tunisia, Turkey, Morocco, Algeria, Israel — all bilateral, partial coverage). For USA, Canada, Australia, Japan, UAE, Asia, Latin America: Belgian coverage stops on emigration. You need:

• Local public system (e.g. Medicare in Australia after 2-year residency, OHIP in Ontario after 3 months, Japan kokumin kenko hoken upon residency).
• Or international private insurance: Cigna Global, Allianz Care, AXA Global, Bupa Global. Annual premium typically EUR 1,500-5,000 per adult depending on age and coverage.
• Optionally: voluntary RIZIV/INAMI continuation for return migration. Apply within 6 months of departure to keep entry rights without waiting period (article 32 ZIV-wet).

Mutuality contribution: continuing or stopping

Children’s coverage and family situations

Minor children of a Belgian employee posted abroad (A1) keep RIZIV/INAMI coverage automatically. Children of pensioners using S1 are listed as dependants on the same form. For children born abroad, file declaration with FPS Foreign Affairs and the consulate within 60 days, plus mutuality registration retroactively.

For divorced parents with shared custody, each parent files separately. The child can be a dependant in two countries simultaneously — coordination via Article 67 of EU 883/2004. The S1 issued by the lower-priority country is suspended.

Common mistakes

Mistake 1: Letting the EHIC expire before S1 starts. Bridge gap: keep the EHIC valid (5 years from issue) until S1 is registered abroad. Reimbursement of bridging-period care is via paper form 30 days after.

Mistake 2: Not informing the mutuality about the move. Continued contributions and risk of denied reimbursement. Notify within 30 days of model 8.

Mistake 3: Assuming dental/optical extras transfer abroad. Mutuality optional packages (aanvullende verzekering / assurance complementaire) are typically not exportable. Cancel separately to avoid double premium.

Mistake 4: Forgetting voluntary continuation deadline. 6 months from emigration to apply for article 32 ZIV-wet continuation. After this you re-enter as new affiliate with 6-month waiting period.