Expats that are living and/or working in the Netherlands are usually required to take out Dutch health insurance to cover the costs of healthcare.
Some expats or emigrants will not be eligible for Dutch insurance, for example because they pay taxes in outside The Netherlands. They may need an expat health insurance.
When am I eligible for Dutch health insurance?
Whether you are eligible for Dutch health insurance depends on your personal situation.
We will discuss four situations:
- Expats from inside the EU/EEA
- Expats from outside the EU/EEA
- Family members
- Students
Tip: Check our informational video about health insurance in The Netherlands.
1. Expats from the EU/EEA
If you are from the European Union (EU) or European Economic Area (EER), you are obliged to obtain a health insurance in The Netherlands when:
- You have a (part-time) job and/or pay income tax in The Netherlands
And/or:
- You are 30 years or older and your stay in The Netherlands is not temporary
In other cases you will likely not be able to take out Dutch health insurance. However, you could choose an expat insurance to cover medical care in The Netherlands.
2. Expats from outside the EU/EEA
If you are not from the EU/EEA you are eligible for a Dutch health insurance if you have a permanent Dutch residence permit.
You must take out Dutch health insurance within four months of your permanent residence permit coming into force.
Dutch Government (Rijksoverheid)
You are not qualified for Dutch health insurance if:
- You are here for study purposes only
- You are working for an employer outside The Netherlands
- You are paying income tax in another country
If you are not eligible for Dutch health insurance, you could take out expat health insurance.
Flowchart: Dutch health insurance for expats
3. Family members
If you are required to take out health insurance in The Netherlands, your family members - that live with you - must usually also obtain a Dutch medical insurance.
The exception for this rule is when a family member works outside The Netherlands. In this case they won't qualify for the Dutch insurance scheme.
In case you work in The Netherlands but your family lives abroad (with you), your family can sometimes be co-insured with you. This depends on your situation and the home country regulations.
Follow these steps:
If you are an expat and live with your family in the EU/EER:
- Request a S1 document for every family member through www.hetcak.nl.
- Send the documents to their current insurance company or national health service.
- Their current insurance company or health service organization will decide if your family members can be insured. They will contact the CAK about this.
- You will receive a confirmation from the CAK about your family's insurance status.
If you live with your family in another treaty country:
- Request a form 109 from your Dutch health insurance company.
- Send the documents to their current insurance company or national health service.
- Their current insurance company or health service organization will decide if your family members can be insured. They will contact the CAK about this.
- You will receive a confirmation about your family's insurance status from the CAK and/or your current insurance company.
Treaty countries (besides EU/EEA): Bosnia-Herzegovina, Cape Verde, Macedonia, Montenegro, Morocco, Serbia, Tunisia and Turkey.
4. Students
There are special rules for students that are in The Netherlands for study purposes only and do not have a (part-time) job. They do not have to take out Dutch health insurance.
Check our guide for information about mandatory health insurance for students
How do I find out if I am eligible for Dutch health insurance?
Do you have any doubts about your insurance status and want to make sure if your need Dutch health insurance?
Expats can also do an assessment with the Sociale Verzekeringsbank (SVB) to find out whether they are insured under the Dutch Wlz (Wet langdurige zorg) scheme and must take Dutch health insurance.
What does the Dutch health insurance cover?
The basic Dutch health insurance covers essential medical care in The Netherlands, such as:
- Visits and treatments by a GP
- Prescribed medication
- Hospital stays and treatments
- Health care provided by (non-) physician specialists
Basic coverage
Although 'basic' may suggest otherwise, the basic health insurance cover is already quite substantial.
It includes:
- Midwifery (birth-care)
- Certain medical aids and health programs
- Psychological and mental health care
- Physiotherapy for people with chronic diseases/conditions
- Basic dental care (under the age of eighteen)
- Speech-language pathology
- Emergency medical care abroad (up to the Dutch tariffs)
Everyone in The Netherlands has a basic health insurance, regardless of their chosen health insurance company. This is because the basic healthcare package is set up by the government and bound to health laws and regulations.
Optionally, supplemental insurance, such as coverage for dental care and physiotherapy and orthodontics, is available at a higher monthly premium.
International coverage
The Dutch health insurance only covers urgent medical care abroad. As an expat you could therefore opt for international expat health insurance that also cover you in other countries world-wide.
Several insurance companies offer an international cover or cover in a specific country for non-urgent medical care.
How much does a Dutch health insurance cost?
The average basic Dutch health insurance premium in 2023 is about 135 euro per month.
Premiums are paid directly by each person to the chosen health insurance company. The amount depends on the chosen healthcare policy, deductible excess and selected supplemental coverages (if applicable).
Besides the mandatory premium, healthcare in The Netherlands is also funded by other means:
Income tax
Employers pay a percentage of their employees’ income to the tax authorities (6,68 percent in 2023) with a maximum income of around 67.000 euro.
Employers, freelancers and people with their own company pay 5,43 percent of their income with the same maximum. In addition, everyone pays 9,65 percent of their income (with a maximum of 35.472 euro) in order to fund long-term medical care.
Deductible excess
Everyone that has basic health insurance has a standard, obligatory deductible excess of 385 euro (in 2023). This amount is to be paid when medical cost are made by the insurance policy holder.
The deductible excess stacks up during a year and resets at the start of a new year. The health insurer will start to reimburse when the deductible excess is fully paid for. In some cases direct reimbursement is applicable, for example, when consulting a GP, for midwifery, supplemental care and health care for those below eighteen years old.
The deductible excess can be increased with a maximum of 500 euro. This lowers the monthly premium about 15 tot 25 euro depending on the insurance company. However, this also means that the deductible excess is 885 euro instead of 385.
How do I choose a Dutch health insurance?
When comparing and choosing a health insurance as an expat, it is recommended to study the following things carefully:
- Premium
- Reviews
- Coverage and policy terms and conditions
- Health choice
Zorgwijzer offers comparisons in different languages:
Need help?
If you need help, ask a Dutch speaking friend or colleague to assist you.
Or contact us by email or phone:
- +31 (0) 10 34 000 20
- helpdesk@zorgwijzer.nl
Am I eligible for a healthcare allowance?
If your income is lower than 38.520 euro (or 48.224 euro) per year you may be eligible for a healthcare benefit for the health insurance premium. This is called 'zorgtoeslag' in Dutch.
Maximum allowances in 2023:
- For singles: € 154 per month
- For families/partners: € 265 per month
How does the Dutch healthcare system work?
The Dutch healthcare system consists of several compartments:
- Short-term medical care, for example, consulting a GP, hospital treatments, medication, certain therapies and mental care
- Long-term medical care for elderly, people with disabilities or chronically diseased
- Supplementary health care, for instance, physiotherapy, dental care and alternative medications/treatments
Only 1 and 2 are part of the mandatory basic health insurance. Supplementary health care is paid out of pocket or insured via a supplementary private health insurance.
General Practitioner (GP)
The GP is the first contact point when you become ill or other health problems arise. The GP will provide an examination and may prescribe medication that can be collected at the pharmacy. If this does not suffice, the GP can refer to specialists, institutions and hospitals for further examinations, treatments and care.
After taking a health insurance it is important to register with a doctor’s practice nearby as finding a GP when you become ill, will often be difficult. When a GP is not available a doctors post (huisartsenpost) can be contacted for matters that can be resolved without hospital care.
Medication
Registering to a local pharmacy is also highly recommended as prescription medications can only be collected there.
Information about the reimbursement of medication can be found on Medicijnkosten.nl (in Dutch).
Hospitals
Hospitals in The Netherlands are usually nearby and provide a high level of care. Some hospitals are specialized in certain treatments or areas.
The GP will refer you to the right hospital except if emergency medical care is required. In that case hospital care will be immediately available by calling 112.
Healthcare providers
Health insurance companies sign contracts with healthcare providers, such as hospitals, clinics and therapists. Healthcare providers that have a standing agreement with the health insurance company are referred to as ‘contracted healthcare providers’.
Reimbursements may be lower when care or treatment is supplied by a healthcare provider that does not have a standing agreement with the insurer. The reimbursement percentage mainly depends on the chosen policy.
| | Naturapolis | Restitutiepolis | Budgetpolis |
|---|
| Premium | Low to average | Average to high | Low |
| Health choice | Broad | Free | Limited |
| Reimbursement for providers outside insurer network | 70 - 80 percent | Up to 100 percent | 50 - 80 percent |
Usually most healthcare providers have a standing agreement with the insurer. Reimbursement is around 50 to 75 percent when a policyholder decides to go to a healthcare provider that does not have a standing agreement with the insurer.
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