My Gf Is Pregnant Need Insurance

[PieterWiphada]

Can someone please help me i'm desperate!

i got my girlfriend here within the Shengen States on a tourist visa to let her give birth here,,,

so far so good, i've gotten her here which wasn't easy,,,

thought the insurance she got to get hold of the visa would cover her medical expences here, guess what?? it doesn't cover her pregnancy,,

where can i get an insurance for her so the expenses of the birthdelivery will be covered??

please reply as fast and accurate as possible please cause the baby is going to come into this world in about 2 weeks, it needs to happen now,,

many thanks

Pieter and Wiphada

[Basil B]

In which country are you?

I doubt anyone will cover you against the cost, must be like crashing your car and trying to buy backdated "fully comprehensive" insurance.

Suppose the real question is how to mitigate you expenses and maybe insure against costly complications, this really depends upon where you are, I am sure wherever you are no doctor or midwife will refuse your girlfriend emergency treatment.

[PieterWiphada]

In which country are you?

I doubt anyone will cover you against the cost, must be like crashing your car and trying to buy backdated "fully comprehensive" insurance.

Suppose the real question is how to mitigate you expenses and maybe insure against costly complications, this really depends upon where you are, I am sure wherever you are no doctor or midwife will refuse your girlfriend emergency treatment.

Belgium

[RAZZELL]

Hang on...you got a Schengen visa which I assume was valid for 6 months and "insurance" for your gf but she was already pregnant?

I think the phrase "shutting the stable door after the horse has bolted" springs to mind!

Good luck!

RAZZ

[wayned]

Should have biught it at 7-11 brfore she got pregnant. Nobody's going to sell you insurance to cover an "existing condition". Just hope that the little critter just pops out and there are no complications!

[Nowhereman60]

To add to all these comments that not helping you, why would you wait this long to figure out you had a problem or that she was pregnant.

[beano2274]

No insurance will cover it.

Note: If the baby is born in Belgium it will get that nationality, and then you can get your GF to stay as it is against the rules of many countries to have a mother be without her baby, did you circumnavigate the rules here?

Whatever you did, good luck with the baby.

[7by7]

What type of Schengen visa did you apply for? Tourist? Visit friends and/or family? Medical treatment? (Question 29 on the form).

I ask, because if she did not say in her visa application that she was traveling to Belgium in order to give birth she could well be in breach of her visa conditions. I don't know enough about the Schengen rules in general or Belgian rules in particular to comment on what the consequences of this will be.

As for the cost of the birth; you are not going to get any insurance to cover her now; any medical insurance for this purpose would need to have been purchased before she was pregnant.

I do not know the Belgian system for dealing with such matters, but I doubt that any Belgian hospital is going to refuse to treat her if she were in labour; but you will probably find yourself with a bill to pay afterwards. Have you no relatives in Belgium or elsewhere who can help out with a loan?

Why the need to have the child born in Belgium; is it something to do with Belgian nationality law?

[7by7]

Note: If the baby is born in Belgium it will get that nationality

Do you know this for certain, Beano? For example children born in the UK are only British if at least one of their parents are British.

and then you can get your GF to stay as it is against the rules of many countries to have a mother be without her baby

Not necessarily, a lot depends on the circumstances of both parents and the regulations of the country concerned. In many situations the argument of the authorities would be that there is no reason why the child cannot return home with the mother.

If you are thinking of the Zambrano ruling, which coincidentally was originally a Belgian case, then this would only apply if the child were an EU national, inherited from the other parent, and the EU national parent refused to care for the child.

Other than that, I do not know enough about Belgian immigration law to comment.

Edited December 27, 2011 by 7by7
Addendum

[7by7]

Some inappropriate comments have been deleted.

[Richard W]

Do you know this for certain, Beano? For example children born in the UK are only British if at least one of their parents are British.

One parent being legally settled in the UK also qualifies those born in the UK for British citizenship.

[7by7]

Correct; apols for the misinformation.

[harrry]

The one good thing is the child will probably be covered as it will be a citizen of Belgium. Costs of the mother probably are up to you.

[beano2274]

I based my assumption on the fact that the father is from Belgium, therefore the child will take the nationality of it's father as well as that of the mother.

My children were born of a german mother in Germany but still had my nationality (British).

But I agree that the OP's GF might be in breach of the visa rules. And the father is set for a hefty bill, as well as the fact that if she breached the rules she will be sent back to Thailand with the baby, and the father will have to travel to see her, as she might be blacklisted from obtaining a Schengen Visa.

[beano2274]

to the OP try this out, not sure if they will do it, but read first and find out

http://www.hthtravelinsurance.com/prdCobrand/gl_citizen...713&CFTOKEN=86602470

Seems to be an American company but might be what you are looking for, or might have some branch or another company in your area.

Before anyone starts - NO I DID NOT READ THROUGH IT....

Edited December 27, 2011 by beano2274

[beano2274]

Belgique nationality law from Wiki

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Belgian_nationality_law

Seems the child will be Belgique.

[7by7]

Thanks for the links, Beano; it appears that the child will be Belgian; assuming the father is, he hasn't said.

As for the insurance issue; if you delve a bit further into the website you have linked to you will find Eligibility Requirements

All U.S. citizens and U.S. permanent residents living abroad who are 74 or younger at the time of application are eligible to apply for coverage or;

All legal residents of the U.S.(citizens and foreign nationals) who are age 74 or younger at the time of application are eligible if they apply from a state listed below or;

An employee of a U.S. company, whereby the company is domiciled in a state listed below and the company pays the insurance premium.

NB, the 'states listed below' are all American states.

Delve further and you will find that pre existing conditions are not covered.

Some health and life insurance policies will cover pre existing conditions, but read the small print and you will find that you need to have paid a minimum number of premiums, usually for at least two years, before you can claim.

[beano2274]

Like I posted I just saw it and thought there might be links to other companies, I never read it as was too lazy to do that.

Looking at the OP name, I took it that he was indeed Belgique.

[bobrussell]

It is highly unlikely that any women arriving at a hospital in labour will be refused treatment! in the UK the hospital is likely to try to recover the costs and failure to pay will potentially affect a settlement visa application.

I am not sure that this is the same in Belgium but if your girlfriend is that close to labour she would not be allowed to fly back home anyway! If you are not a citizen of Belgium I suspect it would not be worthwhile the Belgian authorities pursuing a claim outside the Schengen area and possibly not over any border.

It looks like you have no options anyway. Insurance is clearly not going to pay for something that is certain to happen!

I also suspect the terms of the visa has been breached as I doubt a visa to allow a child to be born in a Schengen country would have been granted without evidence that the hospital bills are covered.

You are probably going to have a bit of explaining to do in the future!

Has your g/f been getting antenatal care in Belgium? If not you may have even more explaining to do. To the outsider this looks like a way of circumventing the immigration rules rather than bad planning.

Edited December 28, 2011 by bobrussell

[PieterWiphada]

the child will be belgian national, she will carry my name

and yes, we got this visa so she could give birth here so that i am with her when it happens

ok, insurance won't cover it, figured that one out

regarding "misusing the visa to give birth here": she was physically in the embassy for an interview at 7months and a half, so if they didn't asked about it that was their problem, they didn't, she wasn't even allowed to fly, they didn't asked about that either, that's their problem too, at immigration in the airport they didn't asked about it either so "up to them right?"

as my child will be belgian, anyone knows if we can apply for a permanent resident visa (it's a visa called type C: for living together, one of the conditions is if you have a child together...)

thanks for the more constructive posts, the unconstructive posts: go do that somewhere else plz

ps: it was a tourist visa 3 months

Edited December 30, 2011 by PieterWiphada

[7by7]

I know absolutely nothing about Belgian immigration law. However, if it is anything like the UK (which it may well be) then applying for a tourist visa when she actually intended to obtain medical treatment in Belgium could very well be classed as obtaining a visa by deception. That she was obviously pregnant when interviewed does not change this; she should have told them the real reason for her visit and applied for the correct visa.

It is not their problem; but it could a big one for her!

What to do about this possible deception, the consequences, if any, of it and whether she can convert a tourist visa into settlement in Belgium, I don't know. To be honest, as you will have noticed, we don't have many (any?) Belgian members here, so I suggest that you contact the relevant authorities in Belgium, explain the situation fully to them and seek their advice on what to do next.

[WarpSpeed]

I know absolutely nothing about Belgian immigration law. However, if it is anything like the UK (which it may well be) then applying for a tourist visa when she actually intended to obtain medical treatment in Belgium could very well be classed as obtaining a visa by deception. That she was obviously pregnant when interviewed does not change this; she should have told them the real reason for her visit and applied for the correct visa.

It is not their problem; but it could a big one for her!

What to do about this possible deception, the consequences, if any, of it and whether she can convert a tourist visa into settlement in Belgium, I don't know. To be honest, as you will have noticed, we don't have many (any?) Belgian members here, so I suggest that you contact the relevant authorities in Belgium, explain the situation fully to them and seek their advice on what to do next.

Yep they don't see it as "their problem" and have a knack for making it YOUR problem...

Edited December 30, 2011 by WarpSpeed

[PieterWiphada]

I know absolutely nothing about Belgian immigration law. However, if it is anything like the UK (which it may well be) then applying for a tourist visa when she actually intended to obtain medical treatment in Belgium could very well be classed as obtaining a visa by deception. That she was obviously pregnant when interviewed does not change this; she should have told them the real reason for her visit and applied for the correct visa.

It is not their problem; but it could a big one for her!

What to do about this possible deception, the consequences, if any, of it and whether she can convert a tourist visa into settlement in Belgium, I don't know. To be honest, as you will have noticed, we don't have many (any?) Belgian members here, so I suggest that you contact the relevant authorities in Belgium, explain the situation fully to them and seek their advice on what to do next.

exemple of "constructive" (thumbs up)

will be calling the appropriote ministries on monday

[MJo]

Many shengen countries have totally different system than UK. Like up north where i came from you can apply residency permit in-country regardless on which kind of visa you entered. And it will be granted providing you meet the requirements i.e. defacto married to national.

For Belgium, like you already said call the necessary goverment agencies on monday. Meanwhile relax, your embassy was aware she was pregnant on time of visa application so there should not be anything to be worried of.

[RAZZELL]

the child will be belgian national, she will carry my name

and yes, we got this visa so she could give birth here so that i am with her when it happens

ok, insurance won't cover it, figured that one out

regarding "misusing the visa to give birth here": she was physically in the embassy for an interview at 7months and a half, so if they didn't asked about it that was their problem, they didn't, she wasn't even allowed to fly, they didn't asked about that either, that's their problem too, at immigration in the airport they didn't asked about it either so "up to them right?"

as my child will be belgian, anyone knows if we can apply for a permanent resident visa (it's a visa called type C: for living together, one of the conditions is if you have a child together...)

thanks for the more constructive posts, the unconstructive posts: go do that somewhere else plz

ps: it was a tourist visa 3 months

Many shengen countries have totally different system than UK. Like up north where i came from you can apply residency permit in-country regardless on which kind of visa you entered. And it will be granted providing you meet the requirements i.e. defacto married to national.

For Belgium, like you already said call the necessary goverment agencies on monday. Meanwhile relax, your embassy was aware she was pregnant on time of visa application so there should not be anything to be worried of.

Were they and are you sure?

I suppose the OP has nothing to worry about....Apart from a massive hospital bill and possibly his gf being booted out at the end of her 3 month visa!!!

RAZZ

Edited December 31, 2011 by RAZZELL

[Basil B]

I think anyone would realise the OP’s first language is not English, but hope he realises that although many of us do come from countries within the EU that things are different in each country and he needs advise from people who know how things work in the country he is in.

Going back to the original post the OP asked

Thought the insurance she got to get hold of the visa would cover her medical expences here, guess what?? it doesn't cover her pregnancy,,

where can i get an insurance for her so the expenses of the birthdelivery will be covered??

I think that has been answered…

And really now the question is where can he get help.

The following may be of help:

http://picum.org/picum.org/uploads/file_/Basic%20Social%20Rights-%20Belgium.pdf

Access to health care in Belgium?

Belgium’s system is based on health insurance and social assistance (to guarantee financial accessibility). Health insurance still requires patients to pay 25 to 45% of their medical expenses.

Destitute people with a medical assistance card can have 100% of their expenses met.

The rest must make an annual contribution based on income.

Drugs are divided into five categories with different co-payment levels depending on their therapeutic benefits.

The system is complex, with three regions: Flanders,Wallonia and Brussels, itself divided into three parts.

The federal, regional and community levels share authority.

Many people remain outside the system as a result of this complexity.

Asylum-seekers must go through a Centre Public d’Action Sociale (CPAS, Public Social Action Centre), of which there are no less than 19 in Brussels and its metropolitan area alone, to obtain the right to health care.

The law of 8 July 1976 on the CPAS recognised undocumented migrants’ right to free health care if they are without means.

They can take advantage of AMU (“Aide Médicale d’Urgence”, Emergency Medical Aid).A medical certificate confirms whether the situation is an emergency.AMU concerns both prevention and cure and can be given to walk-in patients at clinics.

The term “emergency” is misleading because AMU is supposed to cover all pathologies whether they are emergencies or not.

It pays for all expenses except psychiatric hospital treatment, drugs that are not normally reimbursed, such as tranquilisers and sleeping pills, eyeglasses and prosthetic devices, in particular dentures.

In actual practice, implementation of the law depends on each CPAS.

This may also be of help: http://www.medimmigrant.be (it is in French and Dutch only which I cannot read but I think it is relevant).

[7by7]

.........and yes, we got this visa so she could give birth here so that i am with her when it happens..............ps: it was a tourist visa 3 months

Meanwhile relax, your embassy was aware she was pregnant on time of visa application so there should not be anything to be worried of.

Were they and are you sure?

I suppose the OP has nothing to worry about....Apart from a massive hospital bill and possibly his gf being booted out at the end of her 3 month visa!!!

RAZZ

Indeed, Razz.

As said earlier, they may have been aware that she was pregnant but as she applied for a tourist visa not a medical one they would not have been aware that she intended to give birth in Belgium; unless she told them at the interview.

Pieter, you need to get this aspect sorted; do not assume that it is 'their' problem and all will be ok if you do nothing.

[bobrussell]

I think anyone would realise the OP's first language is not English, but hope he realises that although many of us do come from countries within the EU that things are different in each country and he needs advise from people who know how things work in the country he is in.

Going back to the original post the OP asked

Thought the insurance she got to get hold of the visa would cover her medical expences here, guess what?? it doesn't cover her pregnancy,,

where can i get an insurance for her so the expenses of the birthdelivery will be covered??

I think that has been answered…

And really now the question is where can he get help.

The following may be of help:

http://picum.org/pic...-%20Belgium.pdf

Access to health care in Belgium?

Belgium's system is based on health insurance and social assistance (to guarantee financial accessibility). Health insurance still requires patients to pay 25 to 45% of their medical expenses.

Destitute people with a medical assistance card can have 100% of their expenses met.

The rest must make an annual contribution based on income.

Drugs are divided into five categories with different co-payment levels depending on their therapeutic benefits.

The system is complex, with three regions: Flanders,Wallonia and Brussels, itself divided into three parts.

The federal, regional and community levels share authority.

Many people remain outside the system as a result of this complexity.

Asylum-seekers must go through a Centre Public d'Action Sociale (CPAS, Public Social Action Centre), of which there are no less than 19 in Brussels and its metropolitan area alone, to obtain the right to health care.

The law of 8 July 1976 on the CPAS recognised undocumented migrants' right to free health care if they are without means.

They can take advantage of AMU ("Aide Médicale d'Urgence", Emergency Medical Aid).A medical certificate confirms whether the situation is an emergency.AMU concerns both prevention and cure and can be given to walk-in patients at clinics.

The term "emergency" is misleading because AMU is supposed to cover all pathologies whether they are emergencies or not.

It pays for all expenses except psychiatric hospital treatment, drugs that are not normally reimbursed, such as tranquilisers and sleeping pills, eyeglasses and prosthetic devices, in particular dentures.

In actual practice, implementation of the law depends on each CPAS.

This may also be of help: http://www.medimmigrant.be (it is in French and Dutch only which I cannot read but I think it is relevant).

It looks like the first link in this post answers the original question thoroughly. Clearly Belgium has a much more sympathetic approach than the UK!

Over here (UK) the medical treatment would be available for childbirth but when the dust settled your problems would really start as the less than sympathetic immigration system kicked in.

Best of luck - the due date must be looming now.

[roamer]

"regarding "misusing the visa to give birth here": she was physically in the embassy for an interview at 7months and a half, so if they didn't asked about it that was their problem, they didn't, she wasn't even allowed to fly, they didn't asked about that either, that's their problem too, at immigration in the airport they didn't asked about it either so "up to them right?"

Very much suspect your girlfriend was not visibly pregnant to either the embassy or airline staff. There are very good reasons why airlines don't allow women to fly at advanced stages of pregnancy, not least the higher risk of DVT (deep vein thrombosis). That is still a risk, it doesn't end when you step off the plane. Well its not "up to them" now, its "up to you" so you should come clean about the fact that she flew late into her pregnancy and I hope she is already receiving medical attention.