I'm pregnant

Before your due date: a few tips

Although we may think it's a standard process, no two childbirth experiences are the same. First and foremost, you need to make some important decisions about the hospital you want to use for your labour and delivery and the type of room you want to recover in afterwards. The hospital and type of room (e.g. single or double occupancy) will have a significant impact on the final bill. The bill for a stay in a single room is much higher than for a stay in a double room, and giving birth in Brussels is much more expensive than in Flanders or Wallonia (bills over EUR 3,000 are not uncommon in Brussels). It's worth taking the time beforehand to check the covers included in your hospital plan via MyAG Employee Benefits. If you opt for a single-occupancy room, room surcharges and supplemental doctors' fees can only be claimed back if your coverage also applies to stays in a single room. Otherwise, you'll have to pay for these supplements yourself. 

Once you've decided on the hospital and room type, it's time to inform your hospitalisation insurer of the expected new arrival in your family. Don't wait until the last minute! It's best to notify your insurer during the last two months of your pregnancy. You don't need to provide the exact date: your insurer will note the estimated date of when your baby is due.Report a hospital admission via MyAG Employee Benefits.

If you're pregnant, you'll probably need to see your gynaecologist or GP months before your due date. You may even have to take certain medication. Medical expenses in connection with the birth of your baby can also be claimed back from your hospitalisation insurance if they are incurred during a clearly defined period before the birth. Depending on your plan, this period is 1 or 2 months. Once again, check your insurance policy for the exact period. And be sure to keep all your receipts and bills.Send in your medical expenses via MyAG Employee Benefits.

The Big Day

The procedure is the same as for an ordinary hospital admission. The costs incurred during your stay will be itemised on your hospital bill. You'll get this bill roughly 2 to 3 months after you give birth. 

After the birth

Once you're back at home, we're sure you'll be busy experiencing the joys of parenthood. But there are also two important points to bear in mind when it comes to your insurance. Naturally, you'll want to claim back your medical expenses. You'll also need to add your newborn child to your hospital plan as soon as possible.

• Reimbursement of medical expenses
  When you think of medical expenses, the first thing that comes to mind is the hospital bill. In most cases, these costs are covered in full, with the exception of "miscellaneous expenses" such as special meals, rooming-in charges for the co-parent and baby care products.
  
  Your hospital plan also refunds medical expenses for a certain period of time before and after you give birth. For example, appointments with your GP, gynaecologist or physiotherapist as well as medication purchased at pharmacies.
  
  You can find all the information you need about claiming back hospitalisation-related expenses here. 
  
  
• Adding your newborn to your hospital plan
  Once you've regained your strength, it's time to think about your baby's future. Be sure to enrol your baby in your hospital plan straight away, ideally within 3 months of your return home so that your little one can be added to your plan without any waiting period or medical formalities. This is very important because if your newborn needs to stay for a while in the maternity ward or be tested for SIDS, the hospital sees this as a hospital admission for the baby, separate from labour and delivery. In this case, the medical expenses will be charged in your baby's name.
  
  At the bottom of the page, you'll find an explanation of how to enrol your child with AG Employee Benefits & Health Care. 

• Maternity leave and allowance
  You're entitled to maternity leave before and after giving birth. During this period, you take time off from work. By law, you have to stop working as of one week before the birth and until the ninth week after the birth. Note that you're entitled to a total of six weeks' antenatal leave, so you can transfer a maximum of five weeks to your postnatal leave. If you're carrying twins or multiples, then you're entitled to two additional weeks of antenatal leave.
  
  During your maternity leave, your Sickness Fund will pay you a replacement income of up to 82% of your capped salary. Contact your Sickness Fund beforehand to find out how to claim your maternity allowance.  

• Parents of young children sometimes experience stress. A difficult situation at work, whiny children, an endless list of household chores, sleep deprivation, lack of free time, financial worries... The daily roles and responsibilities can lead to stress. That in itself isn't a problem. It's how we learn to adapt to new, difficult or unexpected situations and to respond accordingly. Stress is a normal part of living with and looking after young children.
  
  Need a sympathetic ear?
  My Mind by AG: for your mental well-being
  
  
• There's a lot of information to digest at the beginning. Still have questions or concerns? You can schedule a telehealth consultation via MyAG Employee Benefits, so that if you're worried, you can easily reach a GP without having to go out and bring your baby along.
  
  Experiencing multiple physical health issues?
  My Care by AG: your digital doctor