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Healthcare in the Netherlands

How is the healthcare system regulated in the Netherlands?

Anyone who is obligated to take out Dutch health insurance under the Health Insurance Act, must enroll with a health insurer to cover medical expenses within four months of arrival in the Netherlands.

The Dutch healthcare system is based on the principle of social solidarity. Therefore anyone, healthy or not, must contribute to the medical expenses of those who are ill. If you have an income or receive a social security benefit, you are also due to pay an income related premium. Depending on your situation, the percentage varies.

How do I apply for health insurance?

If you have the obligation to take out Dutch basic health insurance, you chose a health insurer and chose a policy that fits your needs. When you have received the policy sheet, you are insured from the day on the policy sheet. 

Can a health insurer deny my application?

Health insurers must accept anyone who are to take out the Dutch basic health insurance as it is then mandatory, regardless of their age or state of health. You are free to choose your own health insurer and change your health insurer once a year, with effect from January 1st. 

What is the difference between mandatory and additional health insurance?

The basic Dutch health insurance consists of the above mentioned Dutch basic health insurance, which is mandatory and an optional additional health insurance. There are more than forty health insurers (including labels) that offer Dutch basic health insurance policies as well as additional health insurances. 

Are there other options if I not qualify for health insurance in the Netherlands?

• You can take out an international health insurance. Ask the international office at your school if they can refer you to an international health insurer. Or use a search engine on the internet and type in "international health insurance Netherlands". You can chose the policy that fits you best.
• You can keep the insurance from your insurer in your home country that provides medical health coverage in the Netherlands. 

Am I entitled to healthcare benefit? 

People on a low income may be eligible for the healthcare benefit to help pay for the health insurance premium. You can apply for the healthcare benefit online or in person by making an appointment. You can call 'de BelastingTelefoon' 0800 0543 for information. Please call from abroad +31 555 385 385. 

Am I paying double for policy excess?

Besides the monthly premium there is a mandatory policy excess. The policy excess concerns healthcare costs that are not reimbursed. The government determined that the excess for 2025 amounts to € 385,-. Medical costs that exceed this sum and are covered by your health insurance will be paid by the insurer. 

Do I pay the policy excess for all health costs I make?

If you visit your GP (Huisarts), it will not be deducted from your policy excess. But most medical treatments are deducted from the policy excess, such as a blood test. 

Are children under 18 automatically insured?

Newborns must be registered with a health insurer within four months after birth. If they are insured within 4 months after birth, the insurance will start from the day they were born. Are they insured after the first 4 months, the insurance will start on the day of application. 

Children under 18 do not have to pay any premium or policy excess. 

How does someone under 18 apply for the basic Dutch health insurance?

If someone under 18 has no insurance obligation but starts to work, they must be insured with a Dutch basic health insurance from the first day of work. The parent, even without insurance obligation can take out the healthcare policy for the child under 18. 

Coming from abroad

I am an international student with Dutch nationality. Which rules apply to me?

Do you work or do you receive an internship allowance that is equal to or higher than the minimum wage? Then you must you must take out Dutch basic health insurance. Sometimes you are also obliged to take out health insurance without having a job or internship. Please contact us or ask the SVB to assess your insurance position.

Am I required to have health insurance in the Netherlands as an international student?

If you are in the Netherlands for study purposes only, it's not required and not possible to take out a Dutch basic health insurance. You can keep the health insurance from your home country or take out international health insurance.

Different rules apply to students with a Dutch nationality, e.g. from Aruba, Curaçao, Sint Maarten, Bonaire, Sint Eustatius and Saba. 

I am from Aruba, Curaçao, Sint Maarten, Bonaire, Saba or Sint Eustatius and studying in the Netherlands

Are you a student from these countries and do you have a Dutch passport? Then you must take out Dutch basic health insurance if you meet the following conditions:

You live in the Netherlands, your study programme lasts at least 3 years and

• You receive student finance from the Netherlands (DUO); and
• Your cost of living is (partly) paid from the Netherlands; and
• You will only return to your country of origin for holidays and/or family visits.

Are you coming to the Netherlands for a period shorter than 3 years? And are you only in the Netherlands to study? Contact the Sociale Verzekeringbank (SVB).

Are you unsure whether you must take out Dutch basic health insurance? Then ask the SVB to assess this for you.

If you are from Bonaire, Saba or Sint Eustatius and cannot get Dutch health insurance, make sure you are registered with BES Health Insurance.

Watch this video for more information.

Am I required to have Dutch health insurance because of my paid internship?

If you are going to do an internship for which you are being paid at least as much as the Dutch minimum wage, you must be insured with a Dutch basic health insurance. Expenses are regarded as income for your internship, room and board may also be seen as such.

Am I required to have Dutch health insurance because of my part-time job besides my studies?

If you have a part-time job, you are required to have a basic Dutch health insurance from the first day of work. Are you quitting your (part-time) job? Then you must also cancel your Dutch basic health insurance.

I think I received the uninsured letter from the CAK incorrectly. What should I do?

If you have received a letter from the CAK stating that you are ‘not insured’, it means that you do not have a Dutch basic health insurance. A Dutch basic health insurance is compulsory for people who work in the Netherlands. If you think you should not have to take out a Dutch basic health insurance as you are here for study purposes only (no work, no internship), contact the SVB (in Dutch ‘Sociale Verzekeringsbank’) to request a wlz assessment. For more information visit the SVB website.

Is my European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) from my home country valid in the Netherlands?

Yes, the EHIC from your home country is valid in the Netherlands for necessary medical care during your stay. Check with your own health insurer before coming to the Netherlands how long the EHIC will be valid as it might expire. The EHIC will no longer be valid if you start to work in the Netherlands. You must then take out a Dutch health insurance.

Does my basic Dutch health insurance start when I come to the Netherlands to work?

Your basic Dutch health insurance must start on the first day of work. If you are still searching for work, you cannot be insured with a basic Dutch health insurance. 

Am I required to have health insurance because of being self-employed?

Start a Wlz assessment and the SVB (Sociale Verzekeringsbank) will determine whether you need to be insured under the Wlz scheme or not. 

You are not required to be insured in the Netherlands if you reside and work in the Netherlands for an employer based in your home country, you can remain insured in that country. You need to have an A1 certificate and apply for an S1 or E106 form with your health insurer in your home country. This form is used by the member states of the European Union (EU), European Economic Area (EEA) and Switzerland. With this certificate and form you can get medical care in the Netherlands. 

I did not pay my health insurance premium

I received a letter that my premium is overdue. What now?

 If your premium is overdue, you risk paying extra costs. The health insurer will send you a letters about the payment. Make a payment arrangement with your health insurer in time or go to your municipality for assistance to solve your debt problem. 

The monthly premium is deducted from my wages. What can I do to stop this?

In the event of a six months premium debt, your health insurer will report you to the CAK. The monthly premium (in Dutch bestuursrechtelijke premie) due to the CAK is € 172,33 (2025).

This new monthly premium will be deducted directly from your wages or healthcare benefit. If it is deducted from your healthcare benefit you will additionally receive a payment request from the CJIB (in Dutch Centraal Justitieel Incassobureau) to pay the rest of the premium.

With this new monthly premium, you do not pay of your debt with the health insurer. The increased premium will end once the entire debt has been paid or if you have made arrangements for debt counselling with your health insurer. You will then pay the normal premium to your health insurer from the first day of the new month after you made an agreement on the payment arrangement.

What happens with my registration with the CAK when I leave the Netherlands

If you deregister  with the municipality and end your policy with the health insurer, you will still have to pay the debt you have with the health insurer. Your debt will not be solved by leaving the Netherlands.