X-Ray Cost in Belgium
What you actually pay under INAMI / RIZIV and at private clinics. Last reviewed April 2026.
Quick Overview
Belgium runs a mandatory health insurance system administered by mutuelles (mutualiteiten) under the umbrella of INAMI (RIZIV in Flemish). The INAMI base tariff for a standard X-ray is around €50; your mutuelle reimburses 70–80% and you pay a small ticket modérateur — typically €5–15 — if the radiologist is contracted (conventionné). If not contracted, supplements can push the total to €75+ per view.
🏥 Contracted Radiologist
- Ticket modérateur only — small co-pay
- Mutuelle reimburses the rest of the INAMI tariff
- BIM / OMNIO status: even lower co-pay
- Most Belgian hospitals and many radiologists are contracted
🏥 Non-Contracted Radiologist
- INAMI tariff €50 + supplement up to €25+
- Only the base tariff is reimbursed
- Supplements rarely covered by complementary insurance
- Common at some private clinics
📋 Global Medical File (DMG/GMD)
- Register with a single GP to open a DMG/GMD
- Increases reimbursement for GP and some specialist care
- Free to set up; lasts for the year
- Reduces your effective co-pay further
Indicative X-Ray Pricing
The table below shows the typical INAMI nomenclature tariff, the patient co-pay with a contracted radiologist, and the likely out-of-pocket with a non-contracted one. Actual figures depend on the exact INAMI code, your BIM/OMNIO status, and whether you hold a DMG/GMD.
| X-Ray Type | INAMI tariff (approx) | Contracted co-pay | Non-contracted out-of-pocket |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chest (single view) | €40–50 | €5–12 | €35–60+ |
| Limb / joint | €40–55 | €5–15 | €40–75+ |
| Spine — single segment | €45–60 | €8–18 | €40–80+ |
| Spine — full | €70–100 | €15–30 | €60–130+ |
| Abdomen | €40–55 | €5–15 | €35–70+ |
| Dental panoramic (OPG) | €30–50 | €5–12 | €30–60+ |
INAMI tariffs are set by nomenclature code and updated periodically. Use the NomenSoft database on inami.fgov.be for exact codes, or ask the radiologist whether they are conventionné (contracted) before booking.
How INAMI / RIZIV Coverage Works
Who is covered
- Belgian citizens and legal residents registered with a mutuelle
- Employees (mutuelle contributions from payroll + social security)
- Self-employed (via INASTI/RSVZ)
- Dependents, pensioners, students
- EU/EEA/Swiss visitors with EHIC
What it costs
- Funding: social security contributions + VAT + state budget
- Standard reimbursement: 70–80% of INAMI tariff
- BIM / OMNIO status: higher reimbursement for low-income
- Maximum billing (Maximum à Facturer): annual cap on household out-of-pocket
- Complementary mutuelle insurance: optional, covers some supplements
How to get an X-ray
- See your GP (médecin généraliste / huisarts) for a prescription
- Check whether your radiologist is conventionné
- Bring your ID + mutuelle (eID) card
- Pay at the desk; mutuelle reimbursement arrives automatically or via paper voucher
Where to Get an X-Ray
🏥 Major Hospitals
- UZ Brussel / Hôpital Erasme — Brussels
- Cliniques universitaires Saint-Luc — Brussels
- UZ Leuven
- CHU Liège
- UZ Gent (Ghent University Hospital)
- CHU Charleroi
🏥 Major Mutuelles / Mutualiteiten
- Mutualité chrétienne / CM — largest
- Solidaris — socialist mutuelle
- Partenamut / Helan — neutral
- Mutualité libérale / Liberale Mutualiteit
- Mutualité Neutre
- All administer the same INAMI benefit package
💡 Practical tips
- Always ask whether the radiologist is conventionné
- Hospital-based imaging is usually contracted; some private clinics are not
- Open a DMG/GMD with one GP to boost reimbursement
- Low-income? Apply for BIM/OMNIO via your mutuelle
Guide by Patient Type
🇧🇪 Belgian residents
- Stay registered with your mutuelle and pay contributions
- Book with a contracted radiologist to keep co-pay at €5–15
- Open a DMG/GMD with your GP for better reimbursement
- BIM / OMNIO status: low-income — apply via mutuelle
🇪🇺 EU / EEA / Swiss visitors
- EHIC treats you like a Belgian insured patient at contracted sites
- Medically necessary imaging covered
- You may have to pay up front and seek reimbursement in your home country
- Planned medical tourism is not EHIC-covered — self-pay
✈️ Non-EU visitors
- Self-pay at a private clinic — prices similar to France/Germany
- Emergency care always provided
- Travel health insurance recommended
- 3+ month stay: register with a mutuelle
Practical Details
📋 What to bring
- Passport or Belgian eID
- Mutuelle card (or sticker)
- GP prescription for the X-ray
- Prior imaging on CD/USB
- Cash or card for the ticket modérateur
⏰ Typical wait times
- Emergency: immediate
- Hospital outpatient: days to weeks
- Private clinic: same day to 2 days
- Results: same day to 48 hours
💡 How to save money
- Always use a contracted (conventionné) radiologist when possible
- Open a DMG/GMD to boost reimbursement
- BIM/OMNIO status further reduces your co-pay
- The Maximum à Facturer caps annual household out-of-pocket
FAQ
How much does a chest X-ray cost in Belgium?
With a contracted radiologist, you typically pay a ticket modérateur of €5–12. Your mutuelle reimburses the rest of the roughly €40–50 INAMI tariff. With a non-contracted radiologist, expect to pay €35–60+ out of pocket because supplements aren't reimbursed.
Is the X-ray free if I have BIM/OMNIO status?
Not free, but heavily discounted — BIM (Bénéficiaire de l'Intervention Majorée) / OMNIO low-income status reduces your co-pay substantially, and the Maximum à Facturer caps your annual household out-of-pocket.
How do I know if my radiologist is contracted?
Ask directly, or check the INAMI/RIZIV website. You can also search NomenSoft for the specific code. The status is usually posted in the waiting room or on the clinic's website.
Can I open a DMG/GMD at any GP?
Yes — any Belgian GP can open a Global Medical File for you. It's free, valid for the calendar year, and renewable. It increases your reimbursement for GP visits and some specialist care, including imaging referrals.
Can I use EHIC in Belgium?
Yes. EHIC entitles EU/EEA/Swiss visitors to medically necessary care at contracted providers. You may pay up front and seek reimbursement in your home country, or present EHIC directly — rules vary by facility.
What is the Maximum à Facturer (MaF)?
An annual cap on a household's cumulative out-of-pocket medical spend, administered by your mutuelle. Once your co-payments reach the cap (which varies by income), further covered medical care is free. Applies across all INAMI-covered services, including imaging.
Compare X-Ray Costs Across Countries
Sources
- INAMI / RIZIV — NomenSoft nomenclature and tariff database
- INAMI — Honoraires, prix et remboursements pages
- Belgium.be — healthcare costs overview
- Expatica — 2026 Belgium health insurance guide
Last reviewed: April 2026. Tariffs updated by INAMI periodically — confirm via NomenSoft or your mutuelle.