The Dutch Health Insurance Guide
Dutch Health Insurance – The Ultimate Guide
If you’re planning on living in the Netherlands, you’ll need to take out Dutch health insurance. This is because all Dutch residents must be insured by a health insurance company. You can choose between basic and extensive covers when taking out a basic package. Most companies offer additional covers such as physiotherapy and dental care for adults but it’s up to you whether or not you want these added extras included in your policy.
All Dutch residents must be insured by a health insurance company.
In order to be eligible for Dutch healthcare, you must have a Dutch health insurance policy. This requirement applies only to citizens of the Netherlands and other European Union countries who are working in the Netherlands.
If you’re an EU citizen living in the Netherlands, your home country’s social security system will reimburse any out-of-pocket medical bills that aren’t covered by Dutch health care (for example, prescriptions). If this doesn’t apply to you—for example if your country has no such system at all—then you’ll need to apply for a Dutch health insurance policy by contacting one of these providers:
- Menzis (Starting 140 euro per month)
- FBTO (Starting 141 euro per month)
- Anderzorg (starting 143 euro per month)
When choosing an insurance provider, consider which one offers comprehensive coverage at affordable rates.
Basic health insurance – Basisverzekering
Basic health insurance covers treatment by a general practitioner and medical specialists, hospital care (including the cost of a private room, if available), prescribed medicines and appliances, maternity care and dental care for children up to the age of 18.
Basic health insurance does not cover treatment in psychiatric or rehabilitation institutions or outpatient therapy.
Additional Covers – Aanvullende verzekering
Most health insurance providers offer additional covers including physiotherapy, dental care for adults, alternative therapy and repatriation. Physiotherapy is a treatment for people with physical injuries or other physical problems. Dental care for adults is usually not covered by basic health insurance. Alternative therapy is not covered by basic health insurance. Reimbursement for repatriation is not covered by basic health insurance
You can choose what you need!
You can choose to include or exclude these additional covers when you take out a basic health insurance policy. You may want to consider including them if you are planning a long stay in Holland, have young children or have pre-existing medical conditions.
You don’t need to purchase an additional cover if you are only staying for a short time or if none of your family members has any serious medical problems.
What to expect for Dutch Health Insurances in 2024?
Health Insurance Providers will release their statements and new policies around december 2023. Depending on the situation, they can change three things in their policies:
- Providers can change their Own Risk Policy (385 euro in 2024)
- Providers can change their monthly fee (starting at 120 euro in 2024)
- Providers can remove or add service in the base package.
It’s always a good idea to change Health Insurance Providers around december. Most providers will give you discounts or other benefits, if you change insurance to another provider. See the last discounts on our Dutch Health Insurance page..
Are you older than 70 and need a Dutch Health Insurance?
A basic package is sufficient for most people but you might opt for an extensive package if you have a chronic illness or are older than 70.
If you’re over 70 or have a chronic illness, it’s better to get an extensive package. An extensive package will cover more conditions and treatments. However, this additional coverage is not necessary for most people, who can opt for a basic package and save money on their premiums.
If you are older than 70 or have a chronic condition or disability that requires regular treatment, then the extensive health insurance option may be right for you. However, even then there’s no need to spring for all of the possible treatments and services your policy would cover—just make sure it covers what you think will be necessary over the next few years as far as medical care goes so that if anything comes up unexpectedly (like an injury), you’ll have peace of mind knowing that it will be taken care of without having to break open those piggy banks again!
Low income workers also need Health Insurance in The Netherlands.
If you are a low-income worker, you may be entitled to receive a Zorgtoeslag (healthcare allowance) from the Dutch government. To qualify as a low-income worker:
- You must earn less than €23,036 per year.
- Your annual net income cannot exceed €846 per month.
If your annual income exceeds this amount and/or if it is higher than the maximum monthly income levels listed above then you are not eligible for this benefit.
You can apply for this benefit by filling out an application form that is available at any tax office or city hall in Holland.
Do you need a Dutch Health Insurance if you have Health Insurance abroad?
You do not need to take out Dutch health insurance if you are insured under an EU or EEA country’s national healthcare system or if your employer has taken out health insurance cover with an EU-based provider which meets all Dutch requirements.
As a rule, Dutch health insurance is not compulsory. However, if you do not have any other form of comprehensive health insurance and want to receive medical treatment in the Netherlands, you must pay the costs yourself.
The availability of Dutch health insurance depends on your specific situation:
- If you are insured under an EEA country’s national healthcare system or if your employer has taken out health insurance cover with an EU-based provider which meets all Dutch requirements then you do not need to take out Dutch health insurance.
- If this is not the case then there are three possibilities open to you: You can use your own EEA country’s national healthcare system; Your employer can provide sufficient coverage for employees through private schemes; Or alternatively, as a private individual or family member (until age 18), it is possible for yourself and your family members to buy private cover from one of several recognized providers in the Netherlands.
Visiting the Netherlands, do I need Health or Travel insurance?
If you are visiting Holland from outside the EU/EEA, you will have to arrange your own private travel health insurance unless your visit is less than three months and your country has signed an agreement with Holland whereby citizens of both countries can use each other’s healthcare system in case of emergency.
You can only use the Dutch health system in an emergency if you are from a country that has signed an agreement with Holland. This agreement covers people who are visiting the Netherlands for up to three months for tourism, business or family purposes and those who are staying longer than this period but fewer than six consecutive months for work or study.
You can take out health insurance that suits your personal situation
In the Netherlands, you can choose what you want to cover and how much you want to spend. You can also choose how long you want your health insurance policy to last. In addition, there are four levels of health insurance: basic, comprehensive, supplementary and extended care.
To help find the right policy for your needs we recommend visiting one of our local insurance agents who will be able to provide advice on suitable packages for your circumstances.
Top 5 Dutch Health Insurance
| Health Insurance | Price (Starting from) | ||
|---|---|---|---|
 | FBTO | €131- / Per Month | |
 | Anderzorg | €141,- / Per Month | |
 | ASR | €142,- / Per Month | |
 | Menzis | €140,- / Per Month | |
 | Zorg en Zekerheid | €138,- / Per Month |
