In the Netherlands you are required to have health insurance. Every year there is a moment to examine your current health insurance. Is your current health insurance still fully in line with your lifestyle? Or has something changed that makes it easier for you to switch? In this article you will find some useful tips!
Compare health insurance
The new health policies will be announced from November 12, 2024. From then on, all reimbursements and premiums for 2025 are fixed. This is also a good time to adjust or switch your health insurance. Do you have no idea what you need? You can compare your health insurance to discover which health insurance suits your lifestyle.
Do you not necessarily have a plan to switch or adjust something? Then it would be useful to do some comparison shopping. It may turn out that you are paying for additional care that you do not need. By adjusting this in time, you will probably pay less premium next year.
What about your lifestyle and health?
Before you start comparing, you can map out your care wishes. Does your current health policy still fully reflect your lifestyle? Has anything changed regarding your health? List what care you think you need. Do you need more care for which you are not currently insured, for example due to a planned operation, pregnancy or new glasses? Then additional health insurance is useful.
You can also adjust your deductible, explains health insurance expert Mirjam Prins. ‘The mandatory deductible is 385 euros per year for everyone over 18 years old. Will you need little care next year? In that case, you can voluntarily increase your deductible to a maximum of 885 euros. This reduces the monthly health insurance premium.’
Additional care that suits your lifestyle
Which additional packages can you choose? And what suits your lifestyle?
Physiotherapy
Perhaps you regularly visit the physiotherapist or exercise therapist because of long-term complaints. Then consider choosing an additional package with additional physiotherapy and exercise therapy treatments. For some chronic conditions you will receive reimbursement from the 21st treatment. Is your chronic condition not on ‘the chronic list’? In that case, you will only receive compensation with additional insurance.
Dental care
Do you suffer a lot from cavities or other dental problems? Then it is smart to choose additional dental care insurance. Otherwise, the costs for the dentist can be high. Consider having crowns, fillings or implants placed. During a check-up, a dentist can tell you which procedure is needed for your teeth.
Care abroad
Perhaps you are often abroad for work. Or are you someone who loves to travel and makes a lot of trips to distant destinations. Then it is nice to be well insured for emergency care abroad. In principle, this care is reimbursed by basic insurance, but up to the Dutch rate.
In some countries, healthcare costs are much higher. So you pay the difference yourself! With international coverage you will receive twice as much or sometimes even all healthcare costs. Please check whether you already have travel insurance that covers medical costs.
Alternative medicine
Do you like to use homeopathy or do you regularly visit the acupuncturist? Or do you have a young baby and do you want to go to the osteopath for colic or reflux, for example? The costs for these alternative medicines can be high. With additional insurance you cover (a large part of) these costs.
