The Federal Chamber of Representatives is voting on Wednesday on a law to ensure that people can get affordable health insurance after five years of being cured of a serious illness, Het Laatste Nieuws reports.
While there is already a 'right to be forgotten by an insurer, it only takes effect ten years after someone is declared cured. That will now be halved. For those under 21, the scheme will take effect from 2023, and for those older from 2025.
''People who have had cancer or other serious illnesses now have to pay much more for, say, debt balance insurance,'' said Vooruit Member of Federal Parliament, Melissa Depraetere.
The list of 12 diseases for which the right applies - such as cancer and HIV - will be expanded to include diabetes, for example.
The file has been dragging on for years, due to lobbying by private insurers. A compromise has been reached on the various parliamentary proposals by Depraetere and others.
There is also support from the opposition: NVA MP Anneleen Van Bossuyt submitted a similar bill last year.
