Mandatory Health Insurance: What Expats Need to Know in the Netherlands

Why Dutch Health Insurance is Mandatory

The Netherlands operates a universal healthcare system, where access to essential medical care is a right for all residents. To fund this, it is legally required for almost everyone who lives or works in the Netherlands to have basic health insurance, known as 'basisverzekering'. This ensures solidarity and access to quality care for the entire population.

Who Needs It?

Generally, if you are legally registered in the Netherlands (with a BSN from your municipality) and residing or working here, you are obliged to take out Dutch health insurance. There are some specific exceptions for certain short-stay visitors or students (especially from outside the EU/EEA), but for most expats, it's a non-negotiable requirement.

The Four-Month Deadline and Consequences

You are required to take out basic health insurance within four months of registering with your municipality (BRP). While there's a grace period, your insurance coverage will be retroactive to your BRP registration date. This means you will owe premiums for all months from that date onwards, even if you signed up later.

What Does the 'Basisverzekering' Cover?

The basic health insurance package is standard across all insurers and covers essential medical care. This includes:

• General Practitioner (GP) services: All consultations and treatments by your GP ('huisarts') are covered and exempt from the 'eigen risico'.
• Hospital care: Specialist consultations, surgeries, and admissions.
• Maternity care: Prenatal checks, birth assistance, and 'kraamzorg' (postnatal home care).
• Prescription medications: Many essential drugs are reimbursed.
• Mental healthcare: Specialized psychological and psychiatric treatments (often requiring a GP referral).
• Emergency care: Ambulance transport and emergency room visits.
• Limited physiotherapy and allied health.

Important Exclusions and the 'Eigen Risico'

While comprehensive, the basic package has exclusions and financial components to be aware of:

• Dental Care for Adults: Most routine dental care for adults (18+) is NOT covered. You will need to pay out-of-pocket or purchase supplemental dental insurance.
• Glasses/Contact Lenses, Alternative Medicine, Cosmetic Surgery: These are generally not covered.
• 'Eigen Risico' (Mandatory Deductible): This is the first portion of healthcare costs (excluding GP visits) you must pay yourself each year. In 2025, it is €385. Specialist care, hospital visits, and most prescription drugs count towards this deductible.

You can opt for a voluntary higher 'eigen risico' for a lower monthly premium, but this increases your potential out-of-pocket costs.

Choosing an Insurer and Supplemental Insurance

While the basic coverage is the same for all, monthly premiums, customer service (e.g., English support), and options for supplemental insurance ('aanvullende verzekering') vary. Supplemental insurance covers services not in the basic package, like extensive physiotherapy, orthodontics, or most adult dental care.

It's wise to compare insurers, especially looking for those known to be expat-friendly. You can switch insurers or modify your policy once a year, between mid-November and December 31st.