How Health Insurance Works In The Netherlands?

by | Last updated on January 24, 2024

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If you come to live or work in the Netherlands,

you are required to take out a health policy with a Dutch insurer with coverage from the day you arrive

. You have 4 months to take out the policy. You must also register with a Dutch municipality.

How is health insurance paid for in the Netherlands?

Public healthcare in Holland

The state offers mandatory insurance that is

funded from the state and managed by private insurance companies

. The insurance companies receive funding from a regulator's fund. All primary care and long-term care services must be offered at a fixed price.

Is health care free in Netherlands?

Funding for all short-term health care is 50% from employers, 45% from the insured person and 5% by the government.

Children under 18 are covered for free

. Those on low incomes receive compensation to help them pay their insurance.

How does Dutch healthcare work?

The Dutch healthcare system is divided into three compartments: Long-term care for chronic conditions. Basic and essential medical care, from GP visits to short-term hospital stays and specialist appointments or procedures. Supplementary care (e.g. dental care, physiotherapy, cosmetic procedures).

What happens if you don't have health insurance in the Netherlands?

If you fail to take out Dutch health insurance

you are likely to receive a fine

. The payment of the fine is 130% of the insurance premium during the period that you were not insured. The exact same procedure will be repeated once if you still fail to pay the health insurance after three months.

What happens if you don't have insurance in the Netherlands?

If you are living or working in the Netherlands and do not have health insurance,

you will receive a fine

. If you have received a fine because you do not have health insurance, there are two things you need to do: You must pay the fine. The payable sum for 2022 is € 437,25.

Is Dutch health care good?

Amazingly,

the Dutch rate their health care very highly

. They must have low expectations. The Netherlands was number one on the Euro Health Consumer Index in 2015 for its health care system. It has also been listed in the top 3 European countries since 2005.

How much is private health insurance in the Netherlands?

The average cost to a Dutch citizen for health insurance is about

1,400 euros, or $1,615, annually

. People with lower incomes get additional government assistance to reduce their payments.

Is healthcare expensive in the Netherlands?

Healthcare costs in the Netherlands


Healthcare expenditure in the Netherlands is high

. In 2016, the Dutch spent 10.3% of GDP on healthcare; the 8th highest out of EU/EFTA countries. They are also one of only 10 EU/EFTA nations to spend more than €4,000 per capita on health.

How much does Netherlands spend on healthcare?

In 2020, the national healthcare expenditure reached a value of

more than 100 billion euros

, equaling an average year-on-year increase of roughly five percent. In a population of over 17 million people, this came to around 6,660 euros worth of Dutch health care expenses per capita.

Is private health insurance mandatory in the Netherlands?


Every person who lives or works in the Netherlands is legally obliged to take out standard health insurance

to cover the cost of, for example, consulting a general practitioner, hospital treatment and prescription medication. Additional health insurance is not compulsory.

Do you need health insurance in Netherlands?


Health insurance is compulsory for all people who live or work in the Netherlands

. Expats from outside the EU, EEA or Switzerland who arrive in the Netherlands must take out Dutch health insurance within four months of receiving their residence permit, even if they have an existing foreign policy.

What is CAK in the Netherlands?

The CAK is

a public service provider which implements regulations on behalf of the public authorities

. Many people in the Netherlands are in contact with the CAK. For example, because they pay a contribution for household help, for stay in a care institution or for a personal budget.

Why are people uninsured in uninsured in health insurance?

In 2019, 73.7% of uninsured adults said that they were uninsured because

the cost of coverage was too high

. Many people do not have access to coverage through a job, and some people, particularly poor adults in states that did not expand Medicaid, remain ineligible for financial assistance for coverage.

What is WLZ Netherlands?

The

Long-term care act

(WLZ) regulates how you are insured and what kind of care you are eligible for. It also sets the conditions that care must meet in order to be funded from the public purse.

Do you need health insurance as a student in the Netherlands?


International students who study or work in Holland are legally required to have health insurance

.

Is emergency free in Netherlands?

Emergency: If you need emergency care that cannot wait, call 112, This will take you through to either the ambulance, the fire brigade or police.

It's a free number, but everything comes after it may not be free

! If you do not have health insurance, you will have to foot the bill for all treatment carried out.

How much does a doctor visit cost in Netherlands?

Costs of doctors in the Netherlands are

around €30–50 for a consultation

. If you see a specialist, you need proof of referral from your doctor to claim the fee from your insurer. Otherwise, you may have to pay the full costs yourself.

James Park
Author
James Park
Dr. James Park is a medical doctor and health expert with a focus on disease prevention and wellness. He has written several publications on nutrition and fitness, and has been featured in various health magazines. Dr. Park's evidence-based approach to health will help you make informed decisions about your well-being.