Healthcare allowance 2026
The information in this article is provided by our partner Tax-in.
Are you paying for Dutch health insurance? You may be eligible for healthcare allowance (zorgtoeslag), a government contribution that helps people with low or moderate incomes cover their health insurance costs. The amount you receive depends on your income, assets and personal situation. Read on to find out whether you qualify for healthcare allowance in 2026 and what conditions apply.
1. What is healthcare allowance in the Netherlands?
Healthcare allowance, known in Dutch as Zorgtoeslag, is financial support from the Dutch government to help people pay for their Dutch health insurance. It is intended for people with low or moderate income. The allowance is not based on whether you used your health insurance during the year, but on whether you meet the legal requirements, such as having Dutch health insurance, being 18 or older, and staying within the income and asset limits.
2. Who can apply for healthcare allowance in 2026?
You may qualify for healthcare allowance in 2026 if you are 18 years or older, have a Dutch health insurance, legally live or work in the Netherlands and if your income and assets are not too high. If you have a benefit partner, known as a toeslagpartner, their income and assets are also taken into account in the assessment.
3. What is the income limit for healthcare allowance in 2026?
For 2026, you may qualify for healthcare allowance if your annual income is not higher than €40.857. If you have a benefit partner, your combined annual income may not be higher than €51.142. If your income is above these limits, you will not receive healthcare allowance.
4. What is the asset limit for healthcare allowance in 2026?
Your assets must also stay below the allowed limit. On 1 January 2026, your assets may not be higher than €146.011 if you do not have a benefit partner. If you have a benefit partner, your combined assets may not be higher than €184.633. Assets may include savings, investments, bank balances, second properties and other relevant assets.
5. What is a toeslagpartner?
A toeslagpartner is a benefit partner whose income and assets count when calculating your healthcare allowance. This can be your spouse, registered partner, or in some cases another person registered at the same address. If you have a toeslagpartner, the Allowance department (Toeslagen) checks your combined income and assets to determine whether you qualify and how much allowance you can receive.
6. What happens if my income or personal situation changes?
If your income, family situation, residence status, bank account or health insurance changes, you should update your information with the Allowance department as soon as possible. If you receive too much healthcare allowance because your information was not updated, you may have to pay it back later. If your income decreases and you do not report it, you may receive less allowance than you could have received.
7. Do you still want to apply for healthcare allowance 2025?
If you still want to request healthcare allowance for 2025, you should do it as soon as possible. The Dutch Tax Authorities (Belastingdienst) currently states that healthcare allowance, and you should apply before 1 September 2026. Always check the date and conditions that apply to your specific case.
For more information or assistance on this matter, you can contact our partner Tax-in. They are a fully multilingual tax platform for expats in the Netherlands, delivering 100% online support from start to finish with their expert tax consultants who can assist in Dutch, English, Spanish, Portuguese, Italian, and Polish.
