Dutch Health Insurance

How does the Dutch Health System work and when does it apply to you? In this blog we will tell you all about it!

In the Netherlands we offer multiple health insurance. You are free to choose as consumer where you would like to have yourself insured. This is also called a privatized health system.      If you are coming to the Netherlands for a period longer than 4 months to live or work then you it is required to have healthcare.

When you get a health insurance plan, it starts when you apply for a BSN number. That is to say that you have to pay for your health insurance from that moment, because in the Netherlands you cannot be uninsured.

What do you need?

Before you apply for a Dutch Health Insurance you will need the following 3 documents:

• BSN number
• Valid passport
• Dutch bank account

How do you get a Health Insurance?

When choosing your health care there are a few steps to do to get your health insurance.

There are lots of health insurers such as, Zilverenkruis, FBTO of Menzis. To find out which insurer fits you best and offers you the best price, we advise you to use Independer. This is a health insurer that helps you choose between health cares by comparing them and implementing your favors.
The average costs to pay for your health insurance are between €100 - €140 euro’s.

After you have chosen your health care, you will need a General Practitioner, you can find one for free via https://www.zorgkaartnederland.nl/huisarts.

How does the Dutch Health Care works?

When coming to a foreign country it is obvious that it is hard to find out how all the things work in the country. In the Netherlands the health insurance are somewhat complex. The system is regulated by the government and runs via health insurers. All the health insurers work with a basic insurance and an additional insurance.

• Basic insurance

The basic insurance is obligated for everyone and all health insurance offer the same basic health plan. The basic insurance is put together by the government.

Additonal health care that does not fall under the basic insurance and can be split in two parts, where you pay deductible and where you do not have to pay deductible.

• Deductible

The deductible is decided by the government that you will need to pay above your health insurance care. The deductible costs €385 and is obligated for people above 18 years older.

First you have to pay your deductible, after you can get compensation from your basic health insurance.

Examples of care that is deductible are a medical specialist, ambulance, physiotherapy, medicines, handicapped care.

Examples of care that is not deductible are the dentist, home nursing, pregnancy and maternity care or home nursing.

• Supplementary Insurance

Besides your basic insurance you would want to have additional insurance, within this part all the insures compete with each other.

Examples of additional insurances are dentist care, hearing aids, glasses and contact lenses, birth control, plastic surgery, emergency help abroad or vaccinations.

Always check with your own insurer about the additional insurance and its policies to know what the conditions are.

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