Dutch health care insurance explained by OHRA

This article is provided by our partner: OHRA

Welcome to the Netherlands! You’re about to start a new chapter filled with exciting opportunities, new experiences, and let’s be honest, quite a bit of paperwork. One important thing you’ll want to sort out quickly is your Dutch health insurance. The good news? The Netherlands has one of the best healthcare systems in the world. The even better news? Once you understand the basics, arranging your insurance is straightforward. This article will walk you through how the system works, who needs insurance and how to apply.

Why Health Insurance Is Mandatory in the Netherlands
In the Netherlands, basic health insurance (“basisverzekering”) is compulsory for everyone who lives and works here. It ensures that everyone has access to high-quality medical care, from your local GP to hospital specialists.

The government decides what is covered in the basic package, which includes:
- GP visits
- Specialist and hospital care
- Maternity care
- Prescription medicines (partially covered)
- Urgent and emergency care
You can also add supplementary insurance for extras like dental care, physiotherapy, or alternative medicine.

Who Needs It and When to Arrange It
If you start working and living here, you must take out Dutch basic health insurance within four months of registering with your local municipality. Even if you still have insurance from your home country, you will likely need a Dutch policy, especially if your salary is paid in the Netherlands and you pay Dutch income tax.

How to Get Covered – Step by Step
Step 1 – Get your BSN
When you register with your municipality, you’ll receive a BSN (citizen service number). You will need this to apply for health insurance.

Step 2 – Choose an Insurer
While all insurers offer the same government-defined basic coverage, they differ in:
- Monthly premium
- Free choice of doctors, hospitals, specialist clinic or physiotherapist
- Language support: English-speaking service is a lifesaver!
- Extra coverage options to increase your vitality

Step 3 – Apply
Have these ready: your BSN, Dutch address and bank account details
Your coverage will start from the date you apply.

Insurance deductible
The deductible excess is the amount you will need to pay by yourself before you receive coverage from your insurance company. Good to know:

• You will pay a deductible in addition to your premium
• The deductible excess is only paid when medical costs are incurred
• The deductible excess is applied per calendar year (January 1st to December 31st)
• The deductible figure stacks up during the year and resets with every new year

Check the official info on the site of the Dutch Government here.

Changing your policy 

Every November, Dutch insurance providers announce their premiums for the next year. Every year, you will be able to make changes or switch provider from mid November until 31 December. Note that you are officially allowed to change provider until 31 January, but you will have to cancel your insurance before 31 December. You will then be insured with retroactive effect from 1 January.

If you are considering changing your policy, these are the kind of changes you can opt for:

• Change the type of policy you have. You can go from a combination policy to an in-kind (‘natura’) policy or even a budget policy or the other way around. A combination policy offers more freedom to choose your healthcare provider, while an in-kind policy limits your choice to providers that have been contracted by your insurance company;
• Change the level of excess. You may opt for voluntary excess (deductible or ‘eigen risico’) on top of your mandatory excess of € 385. The more voluntary excess you have, the less premium you pay;
• Check if there is a special discount available. Many providers offer discounts of up to 10% to members of sports associations, people that are self-employed, entrepreneurs and students;
• Opt for a yearly instead of a monthly payment.

Any questions?
If you have further questions about health insurance, you can contact The Hague International Centre or our partner OHRA. When contacting OHRA, please make sure to mention the collective contract number: 70448.