Welcome to Stichting De Ombudsman!
This website is to inform you about the health insurance. Most information is available in Dutch. Below is a translation of the most important information.
If you wish to know more about the health insurance or if you have any questions, we can provide assistance in your own language. Please fill in your details and we will contact you. You can also call us at 0800 64 64 644 or send us an email.
Compulsory health insurance
Everyone who lives and/or works in the Netherlands must have a health insurance to be insured against medical expenses. A health insurance is taken out with a health insurer.
Basic Health Insurance and Supplementary Insurance
The health insurance consists of a compulsory basic health insurance and a voluntary supplementary insurance.
The basic health insurance covers any medically necessary healthcare, such as visits to your family doctor, the hospital and the obstetrician, and medication. Furthermore, it includes costs of dental care to the age of 22. A health insurer has a duty to accept you for the basic health insurance. This means that you cannot be refused.
The supplementary insurance (e.g. for physiotherapy or dental care) is not compulsory. The insurer does not have a duty to accept you for the supplementary insurance. The monthly premium for the basic health insurance is approximately EUR 100 per month. Children up to the age of 18 do not pay any premium. Parents do, however, have to register their children with a health insurer.
Care Allowance
If you have a low income, you can apply for a care allowance with the tax authorities. The care allowance is a contribution towards the health insurance premium. Visit www.toeslagen.nl to calculate whether you are eligible for a care allowance.
Choosing your own health insurance You can choose your own health insurance. Visit www.kiesbeter.nl to compare health insurances and see which one suits you best.
Compulsory policy excess
Everyone is subject to a compulsory policy excess. The first 155 euros of medical expenses incurred are payable by you. The policy excess is individual. Children under 18 are not subject to a policy excess. After all, they don’t pay a premium either. You can also agree on a voluntary policy excess, in exchange for a lower premium.
Group contract
A group health insurance can be advantageous. It is often possible to take out a group contract through your employer or your municipality. Visit www.kiesbeter.nl to see if you are eligible for a group contract.
Penalty
If you do not register for a health insurance in time, you will run the risk of a penalty. Moreover, you will have to pay all medical expenses yourself. The penalty will be calculated for the entire period that you were uninsured. The penalty will be equal to 130% of the monthly premium multiplied by the number of months that you were uninsured. For the purpose of determining the penalty your income and whether or not you have any debts will be reviewed.
If you are a foreigner, you must register for a health insurance within four months of taking up residence and/or starting work in the Netherlands.
Payment arrears?
The health insurer will notify you if your premium payment is overdue. After two months you will receive a letter. After a payment arrears of four months you will receive another warning. If you are six months late in payment your health insurer will register you with the Healthcare Insurance Board [College voor zorgverzekeringen - CVZ]. Your premium will be increased. The amount will be withheld directly from your wages or benefit. The increased premium ends once the debt, the costs of collection and interest have been paid. The increased premium will also end if you receive debt counselling.
If you have any further questions that you wish to have answered in your own language, please fill in your details and we will contact you.
You can also call us (toll free) at 0800 64 64 644 (Mondays to Fridays from 10.00 a.m. - 4.00 p.m.).
Foreign residents
If you are a foreigner, whether or not you will have to take out a health insurance in the Netherlands will depend on your situation. Below is some general information. Your situation may be different. Therefore, we recommend that you contact us for tailored advice.
If you wish, we can provide assistance in your own language. In such event, please fill in your details and we will contact you. You can also call us at 0800 64 64 644 or send us an email.
Health insurance in the Netherlands
In the following situations you must take out a health insurance in the Netherlands:
- You work and live in the Netherlands
- You work in the Netherlands, but you live abroad
- You study and work in the Netherlands
Whether or not your family members will have to take out a health insurance in the Netherlands will depend on your situation.
No health insurance in the Netherlands
In the following situations you cannot take out a health insurance in the Netherlands:
- You have been posted from an EU-/EEA country and you will be working and residing in the Netherlands for a maximum of 1 or 2 years. You do, however, need to have a health insurance in your own country. If you register with CZ Zorgverzekeringen you can get medical care in the Netherlands for the duration of your posting.
- You only study in the Netherlands (you do not work here) and you are under the age of 30.
