Health insurance

Health Care Insurance Act
The goal of the Health Insurance Act is to provide a standard, essential insurance that covers curative care costs. The insured has to have a standard health care plan; the health insurance coverage can be extended by adding supplemental medical plans. The government determines which medical care is covered by the standard heath care plan and this plan is compulsory for inhabitants of the Netherlands. The health insurers are obliged to accept anyone who applies for standard health insurance. The standard insurance plan is compulsory in contrast to supplemental plans, which do not fall under compulsory acceptance. Those insured may switch health insurers once a year.

Costs
The premium consists of a nominal monthly fee for insured individuals. Besides that, employees pay an income-related contribution for social health insurances. Employers deduct this from your gross salary and pay this amount directly to the Tax office (Belastingdienst). Each individual over 18 years old also has a yearly deductible. The amount for this compulsory deductible is currently €385, and is set each year by the Dutch government.

For the basic insurance, you pay a premium to the insurance company. This is known as the nominal premium. This nominal premium generally costs about €1,800 per year (starting at around €150 per month) per person. For children under the age of 18, the standard insurance (basisverzekering) is free of charge, but you do have to ensure that your child is registered with an insurance company.

Compensation
Depending on your income and family situation, you may be eligible to receive an allowance to help you cover insurance costs. This compensation is applicable if you live alone and your income is not higher than €39.719 (2025) per year, or if you live with a partner and your total income is not higher than €50.206 (2025) per year. You can find more information about applying for this compensation (’zorgtoeslag’) on the website of the Government of the Netherlands or check the Belastingdienst website for up to date requirements (this page is only available in Dutch).

You can also find more information about health insurance on the website of the Government of the Netherlands. This information is available in English. 

Coverage
What costs are included in the basic health care package [plan]?

• medical care, including general practitioner, hospital care and prescribed specialist care
• dental care (until the age of 18, as from age 18 only specialist dental care and dentures)
• medical aid
• reimbursement of certain medications
• post-natal mother and baby care, midwife services, ivf treatment
• ambulance costs and costs of transport
• rehabilitation care (limited physiotherapy/rehabilitation, speech therapy, occupational therapy and dietary advice).

You can check with your insurance provider for more specifics on the coverage they offer, but rest assured that all basic health insurances packages must conform to the standards set by law so the basic coverage will always be included.  

If you do not live in the Netherlands
The Health Care Insurance Act applies for those working in the Netherlands who do not (yet) live in the Netherlands. If this is the case, you are required to take out a basic insurance policy, for which you have to pay the nominal premium and the income-related contribution. In addition, you may be entitled to a health care allowance.

We have tried to give you a brief summary of the ‘basisverzekering’ (basic insurance plan). No rights can be obtained regarding the above information, since we are not insurance experts, but we hope that it helps to point you in the right direction.