Dutch basic healthcare insurance
On this page you can find a lot of practical information about the Dutch basic healthcare insurance (basisverzekering). For example, what you need in order to apply for a Dutch healthcare insurance and what is covered with this insurance.
When can you get a Dutch basic healthcare insurance?
Dutch citizens are obliged to have a basic healthcare insurance. You as a student are obliged to get this insurance if you meet with the following conditions:
- If you are student and have a job or a paid internship.
- If you are older than 30 years of age.
- If you are planning to stay in Holland longer than one year.
What do you need to get a Dutch basic healthcare insurance?
If you want to get a Dutch basic healthcare insurance you need a citizen service number (burgerservicenumber). In order to get a citizen service number you have to go to your local town hall and register yourself as an inhabitant (GBA inschrijving). This is a database with information about the residents of the Netherlands.
If you are from a non-EU country you first have to apply for a residents permit at the Immigration and Naturalization Service (IND).
In order to register as an inhabitant you need to bring the following documents:
- A legalized and certified copy of your birth certificate
- A document that you can prove that you have a permanent place to live (for example a contract of the house you are renting)
- A valid passport
What is covered with a basic healthcare insurance?
The coverage of the basic healthcare is set by the Dutch government and the coverage is the same at all the different health insurance companies.
In short the basic healthcare insurance covers:
- Hospital admission
- Medical aids
- Medication
- Medical specialists
- Obstetric care
- Maternity care
- Transport with ambulance
- Dental care till the age of 22 years
- Physiotherapy
- Ergotherapy
- Oral surgery
- Rehabilitation
Obligatory Deductible Excess
The obligation deductible excess changes every year. In 2010 this excess is € 165,-. This mean that you have to pay the first € 165,- of your medical costs annually. In 2010 this obligation deductible excess does not count for appointments with your general practitioner, obstetric care and maternity care. This means that these expenses are covered for free. This could also change in 2011.
Voluntary deductible excess
You can also choose for a voluntary deductible excess over the obligatory deductible excess with a maximum of € 500,-. This means that you have to pay (with the maximum voluntary deductible excess) the first € 500,- of your medical care costs. The higher this voluntary deductible excess, the lower the premium you have to pay for your healthcare insurance.
The care of appointments with your general practitioner, obstetric care, maternity care are also not included in this voluntary deductible excess.
A calculation example:
Your medical care expenses are € 800, - and you have voluntary deductible excess of € 250,-. You have to pay the voluntary deductible excess of € 165 and after that the deductible excess of € 250,-. The healthcare insurance company will pay you € 385,- of the total medical care expenses.
Collective healthcare insurance:
It is possible that the college or university where you study in the Netherlands made a deal with a healthcare insurance company. This means that you as a student can get discount on your premium, if you take a healthcare insurance at that company. You can get more information about this at your college or university.
