Saturday 4 July 2009
Saturday 4 July 2009
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General medical care is high in the Netherlands but non-interventionist in nature.
Here’s a current guide to health insurance, doctors, dentists and pharmacies.
The Dutch healthcare system has undergone radical change in the last few years. It is now mandatory for everyone to have at least a base level of insurance (basisverzekering) but you are free to choose your own health insurer (zorgvezekeraar) and change companies once a year. You must take out insurance with a Dutch insurer within four months of arrival even if you already have an existing policy that gives you cover in the Netherlands. Children under 18 are included in their parents' insurance.
A Dutch insurance company cannot refuse to cover for you for the basic package, regardless of your age or state of health. The standard basic package is pretty much the same from all providers except that costs may vary. If your income is under a fixed minimum level, you can apply for a healthcare allowance (zorgtoeslag) from the tax authorities (belastingdienst). Visit website www.toeslagen.nl (in Dutch) for more details. The income bands for 2007 were EUR 26, 071 for single people and a joint income of less than EUR 41,889 for couples.
The trade association of health insurance providers (www.zn.nl) includes some information in English and The Ministry of Health, Welfare and Sport (www.minvws.nl) has a downloadable leaflet on the health insurance obligation (in nine languages) as well as detailed information in English on many medical aspects. Another very useful medical portal is www.kiesbeter.nl (lit. choose better), which is in Dutch and at the website www.independer.nl it is possible to get a comparison of insurance policies (in Dutch).
Basic insurance
The basic insurance covers general medical care (visits to the huisarts, for example), hospital stays, dental care for up to age 22, prescription medicine, and various appliances. Costs start at approximately EUR 100 a month. The government keep tweaking this package.
Hi,
I would be glad if somebody could send me a link where I could find information about legal form of Dutch hospitals, especially large ones where doctors are educated.
Thanks Vaclav
I've recently moved to Amsterdam, and in trying to get health insurance through my employer I've learned that in order to get health insurance I must have a residence permit (according to my HR department this is Dutch Law). As I'm still being processed through the IND it could take a few months before I get a residence permit. It also seems that in order to get a residence permit I must first have health insurance. I noticed this is not mentioned in the article here. Has anyone else had this experience?
The article claims that your are free to choose your health insurance. In practice however you are limited to Dutch insurance companies as these are the only ones recognised as offering the legally required cover. Expats often prefer worldwide or regional health cover so that they can get treatment paid for wherever they happen to be - the current Dutch system forces you to take out local insurance as well as or instead of any worldwide cover. In effect the new system creates a nice monopoly for local insurers and you could argue that it represents a barrier to the free movement of labour.
Here’s a current guide to health insurance, doctors, dentists and pharmacies.
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