Dutch health insurance compared

How the Dutch system actually works

The Dutch system is a regulated private market. Every insurer offers the same legally defined basisverzekering — the same covered treatments, the same essential rules, the same eigen risico floor. They compete on premium, service, app, network of preferred providers, and supplementary packages (aanvullende verzekeringen) that sit on top. There is no public single-payer option; everyone buys from a private insurer, but the rules are uniform.

The flip side: you cannot game the system by upgrading insurance for a better basic package. If you want better dental, more physio, or richer abroad cover, you buy supplementary modules. The basisverzekering is the basisverzekering everywhere.

What the basisverzekering covers

• GP visits — unlimited, no eigen risico, free at point of care.
• Hospital and specialist care — by referral, eigen risico applies up to the annual cap.
• Prescription medication — those on the formulary; alternative brands or non-formulary drugs may be at your cost.
• Maternity care — antenatal, delivery (home, midwife, or hospital), and postnatal kraamzorg are covered.
• Mental healthcare (GGZ) — primary GGZ via the GP, specialised GGZ with a referral. Subject to eigen risico.
• Physiotherapy — first 20 sessions at own cost for chronic-list conditions (then covered from session 21 onward), fully covered for under-18s. Routine physio needs supplementary cover.
• Emergency care abroad — up to Dutch tariffs only. Top up with travel or abroad-supplementary cover for high-cost destinations.

Eigen risico (deductible) explained

You pay the first portion of non-GP, non-maternity care yourself each year. The statutory minimum is €385 (revised periodically). You can voluntarily raise this by up to €500 (so up to €885) in exchange for a lower monthly premium — typically a discount of €15–€30/month. The break-even is straightforward: a €500 voluntary increase saves roughly €240/year in premium, so it pays off only if you stay below the higher deductible. Anyone with chronic conditions or expecting major care should stay at the minimum.

Supplementary insurance (aanvullende verzekering)

Add-on modules that sit on top of the basisverzekering. Standard ones include:

• Aanvullende verzekering (general supplementary)

  Covers physiotherapy beyond statutory minimums, alternative medicine, glasses/contacts allowance, and travel-related medical care abroad. Tiered packages from ~€10–€40/month.

• Tandarts / dental

  Adult dental is not in the basisverzekering. A separate tandartsverzekering covers cleanings, fillings, and major work up to a yearly cap (often €250–€1,250). Some packages have a 12-month waiting period for major treatments.

• Fysiotherapie

  For conditions on the official chronic list, the first 20 sessions are at your own cost (once per condition, lifetime); from session 21 onward the basisverzekering covers it (subject to eigen risico). Routine physio (e.g. for back pain, sports injuries) needs supplementary cover or you pay out of pocket — typically €40–€60 per session.

• Buitenland / abroad cover

  Basisverzekering covers emergency care abroad up to Dutch tariffs. Abroad supplementary tops this up to actual cost in expensive systems (US, Switzerland) and adds repatriation. Worth it for frequent travellers.

Zorgtoeslag (healthcare allowance)

Lower-income residents may qualify for a healthcare allowance from the Belastingdienst, paid monthly via Mijn toeslagen. Income and asset thresholds are revised yearly — check toeslagen.nl. For 2026: full or partial entitlement up to €40,857 single income or €51,142 joint with a toeslagpartner, with asset thresholds of €146,011 (single) and €184,633 (with partner) on 1 January. Maximum 2026 benefit is €129/month single or €246/month with a partner — both reduced from 2025. The amount tapers off; full benefit is only at low incomes.

Providers expats commonly use

• Zilveren Kruis

  Largest insurer. Broad GP and hospital network, decent English app, frequent partner of multinational employers. Tends to be mid-priced.

• VGZ

  Value-priced cooperative insurer with multiple brands (VGZ, IZA, IZZ, Univé, Bewuzt). Good for cost-conscious singles and families.

• CZ

  Strong on chronic-condition care and care management. Good for people with ongoing healthcare needs.

• ONVZ

  Premium service tier, often used by expats with employer reimbursement. Excellent customer service and broad network coverage.

• Menzis

  Eastern Netherlands roots, strong digital tools, partnerships with sports and prevention programs.

• National Academic / DSW

  Academic-focused brand on DSW infrastructure, popular with PhDs and university hires. DSW is one of the few insurers without no-contracts hospitals.

How to choose

1. Pick basis vs restitutie: if you want freedom to choose any provider, pick restitutie even though it costs slightly more.
2. Decide on eigen risico: minimum if you have any chronic condition or expect treatment; voluntary increase only if you're otherwise healthy and can self-fund the higher deductible.
3. Add modules you'll actually use: dental if you visit the dentist, physio if you're active, abroad if you travel often. Don't pay for modules you won't claim.
4. Compare quotes: use Zorgwijzer or Independer to filter by features and price. Premium spread across insurers is typically €10–€20/month for similar coverage.
5. Switch annually if needed: insurer prices reshuffle every year. The switch window (mid-Nov–1 Feb) is your chance to rebalance.