Health insurance in the Netherlands for employees – a guide by Duijndam Works
In the Netherlands, everyone who takes up employment is required to have health insurance. This insurance guarantees access to medical care, including visits to the doctor, treatment in hospitals and reimbursement (full or partial) of prescription medicines. Even if you plan to work in the Netherlands for only a short time, health insurance is mandatory from the moment you start work. It should be emphasized that health insurance from another country does not meet the legal requirements and is not sufficient for legal employment in the Netherlands. Lack of appropriate insurance may result in a financial penalty.
The Dutch insurance system is well-organized, but it can be a bit complicated for people coming to the Netherlands for the first time. In this article, we explain how employee insurance works in the Netherlands and what you should know before you start working in the country.
What types of insurance are there?
The Dutch health insurance system is based on two main types of insurance that apply to employees:
Private health insurance: This is individual health insurance that can be purchased from any insurance company in the Netherlands. It covers basic health care, such as visits to doctors, hospitalizations and medicines. Policies vary in terms of services covered and premium costs, allowing insured individuals to tailor their protection to their specific needs.
Group health insurance: This is insurance offered by employers, which usually covers a larger group of employees. The scope of insurance is strictly defined in the policy and it is not possible to extend it.
How to get health insurance?
Once you arrive in the Netherlands and start working, you have four months to register with one of the insurance companies. However, it is worth doing it right away to avoid fees for not registering on time. Each person who lives or works in the Netherlands chooses their own insurer.
There are many companies on the market offering different health insurance packages. Choosing the right insurance may depend on your lifestyle, health needs and financial possibilities. Importantly, the basic health insurance package is the same for everyone. Private insurance can be extended with additional options, such as dental insurance or care abroad.
As an employment agency, we offer full support in taking out mandatory (group) health insurance, which is required for everyone taking up employment in the Netherlands.
How to get health insurance?
After arriving in the Netherlands and starting work, you have four months to register with one of the insurance companies. However, it is worth doing it right away to avoid fees for not registering on time. Everyone who lives or works in the Netherlands chooses their own insurer.
There are many companies on the market offering different health insurance packages. Choosing the right insurance may depend on your lifestyle, health needs and financial possibilities. Importantly, the basic health insurance package is the same for everyone. Private insurance can be extended with additional options, such as dental insurance or care abroad.
As an employment agency, we offer full support in taking out mandatory (group) health insurance, which is required for everyone taking up employment in the Netherlands.
Health Insurance Premiums
The health insurance premium is fully paid by you as the employee. This means that, depending on the type of insurance you have, you will either pay a monthly or weekly premium, or it will be automatically deducted from your salary.
The term “eigen risico” (own risk) is a key element of the health insurance system. For group insurance, all costs are covered by the employer. However, with private insurance, the insured person can choose the amount of “eigen risico,” meaning the higher the risk, the lower the monthly premium. In practice, this means the insured person pays the “first” treatment costs up to the chosen eigen risico. For example, if the eigen risico is €500 and the total treatment cost is €700, the insured person covers the first €500, and the remaining amount is covered by the insurance company. It’s also important to note that if the same person needs further treatment within the same calendar year, all additional costs will be covered by the insurance company since the eigen risico has already been used.
For people with lower incomes, there is a healthcare allowance (zorgtoeslag), which can be obtained by applying to the Dutch Tax and Customs Administration (Belastingdienst).
What does basic health insurance cover?
The basic health insurance package mainly includes:
- visits to a family doctor (huisarts)
- hospital treatment in emergencies
- basic prescription medicines (in the case of private insurance up to €250, in the case of group insurance 100% of the price of medicines is reimbursed)
Additional insurance and options
If you have private insurance, depending on your needs, you can buy additional packages, which include, for example:
- dental care – dentistry in the basic package only covers children; for adults, additional insurance is required;
- physiotherapy – if you need regular visits to a physiotherapist, it is worth considering extending your insurance;
Working through Duijndam Works and insurance
As an employment agency, we are committed to ensuring a safe and legal employment process in the Netherlands. As part of this, we offer full support in taking out mandatory health insurance, which is required for every employee in the Netherlands.
We offer the possibility of taking out basic health insurance (group insurance) with Holland Zorg through our company. The contribution currently amounts to €35.56 per week and is automatically deducted from your salary. Your insurance becomes active from your first day of work and you can find all information about it at www.hollandzorg.com/my. You will receive your login details by e-mail on the day the insurance is activated, i.e. on your first day of work.
If you are on holiday in your home country and your contract with the agency is still active, the insurance will still apply. This option only applies in the event of an emergency, not planned treatment. Before leaving, we recommend that you generate and download the S1 form from your account at www.hollandzorg.com/my.
If you prefer to take out insurance yourself, it is sufficient to submit a declaration confirming that you have private insurance during the employment formalities via Duijndam Works.
A change of insurance during the calendar year is possible in two cases: after the end of the contract and signing a new one or at the beginning of the new calendar year.
In addition, at your request, we can apply for health insurance allowance (Zorgtoeslag) on your behalf, which allows for a partial refund of insurance costs, depending on the level of income. You will find detailed information on this topic in the materials provided – click here.
What should a Duijndam Works employee do if they need to make an appointment with a doctor?
If the employee lives in our accommodation, we offer support in making an appointment with a doctor if it is difficult to arrange this on their own. People who speak English are encouraged to try to make an appointment themselves.
If you have any questions about health insurance, please contact us – we are at your disposal and will be happy to help!