The Belgian Parliament is currently discussing a draft Bill proposed by Federal Health Minister Frank Vandenbroucke which aims to reverse the growing trend of long-term sickness. About half a million employees have been off sick for more than a year, according to figures from the National Institute for Sickness and Disability Insurance. That’s two-thirds more than a decade ago. Because of those rising numbers, health insurance funds cannot always keep up. Some of those employees have check-ups with the health insurance fund doctor only very sporadically (the Health Minister has reportedly based his draft bill on the anecdotal story of an employee who had not seen the health insurance fund doctor in 12 years). If the Bill becomes law, employees who fall ill will have mandatory physical appointments with the health insurance fund after four, seven and 11 months of absence. Even after 12 months – when the employee is officially labelled ‘long-term sick’ – appointments will remain mandatory, but the exact timing and frequency will then depend on an assessment of the extent to which a quick return to work is realistic. Those appointments will be fixed by the health insurance fund, and employees who decline to attend may see their allowance temporarily suspended.
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