In this guide
If you are looking at international health insurance in the Netherlands, Cigna and Aetna are two names you will come across. This comparison sets out what each insurer publishes about its plans in 2026, what that means for someone living in the Netherlands, and when you need Dutch health insurance instead.
One point first: if you come to live or work in the Netherlands, Dutch health insurance is compulsory, and an international policy does not replace it (government.nl, checked 5 October 2026). Most of what follows is relevant if one of the exceptions applies to you, or if you want international cover alongside your Dutch policy.
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Cigna vs Aetna: How Do the Plans Compare?
Cigna Global publishes its individual plan structure openly: four tiers called Close Care, Silver, Gold and Platinum, with annual overall benefit maximums of USD 500,000, USD 1,000,000, USD 2,000,000 and paid in full (cignaglobal.com, plans in detail, checked 5 October 2026). Aetna International’s website is organised around employers, brokers and members, and on 5 October 2026 we found no individual plan names or prices on it. Plan names and prices for Aetna that circulate online could not be verified, so we do not repeat them here. Ask your employer or a broker for current Aetna plan documents.
| Cigna Global | Aetna International | |
|---|---|---|
| Individual plans published | Close Care, Silver, Gold, Platinum | None found on aetnainternational.com |
| Annual overall maximum | USD 500,000 / 1,000,000 / 2,000,000 / paid in full | Not published |
| Countries covered | More than 200 markets and territories | 200+ countries and territories |
| Network size | 2.4 million health professionals | No provider count on the homepage |
| Mental health care | In all four core tiers, with limits per tier | Not published |
| Outpatient, dental/vision | Optional modules | Not published |
| Quotes | Online quote tool | Via employer or broker |
Sources: cignaglobal.com (homepage, plans in detail, optional benefits) and aetnainternational.com, checked 5 October 2026.
Do You Actually Need International Health Insurance in the Netherlands?
The Dutch government says: “If you come to live or work in the Netherlands you need to take out Dutch health insurance as quickly as possible. And no later than 4 months after arriving. You must do this even if you already have a medical insurance policy in another country.” Cover must start on the day you arrive; if you take out the policy within 4 months, it applies retroactively, and if you wait longer, you are not insured for the period before and the CAK may fine you (government.nl, checked 5 October 2026). An international policy from Cigna or Aetna does not satisfy this obligation.
The exceptions the government names:
- Your employer is outside the Netherlands: then insurance in the country you came from is enough, under rules the SVB explains.
- You work only for an EU institution: you are covered by the EU’s Joint Sickness Insurance Scheme (JSIS) and cannot take out Dutch health insurance.
- You are a foreign student: you may already be insured from your own country, but in some cases you must take out Dutch insurance; check Studyinholland.nl (Nuffic).
When international insurance can make sense:
- One of the exceptions above applies and you want cover beyond what your home system gives you
- You want cover for longer stays outside the Netherlands on top of your Dutch policy
- You are not coming to live or work in the Netherlands, for example on a visit
When you do not need it instead of Dutch insurance:
- You live or work in the Netherlands for a Dutch employer: get Dutch health insurance (see our Dutch health insurance guide)
- You want extra cover on top of the basic package: compare Dutch supplementary insurance (aanvullende verzekering) as well
Cigna Global: Full Profile
Cigna Global sells international health insurance to individuals and families, employers, and IGOs, NGOs and governments. It cites coverage in more than 200 markets and territories, 2.4 million health professionals and 24/7 customer service centres in more than 50 languages (cignaglobal.com, checked 5 October 2026).
Plans
Cigna Global lists four core plan tiers for individuals and families: Close Care, Silver, Gold and Platinum, with annual overall benefit maximums of USD 500,000, USD 1,000,000, USD 2,000,000 and paid in full respectively. The core plan (International Medical Insurance) covers inpatient and daypatient treatment; you add optional modules on top (cignaglobal.com, checked 5 October 2026). Examples from the plans-in-detail page:
| Benefit | Silver | Gold | Platinum |
|---|---|---|---|
| Annual overall maximum | USD 1,000,000 | USD 2,000,000 | Paid in full |
| Advanced imaging (MRI, CT, PET) | USD 10,000 | USD 30,000 | Paid in full |
| Mental and behavioural health care | USD 5,000, up to 30 days inpatient/daypatient | USD 10,000, up to 60 days | Paid in full, up to 90 days |
| Rehabilitation | USD 5,000, up to 30 days | USD 10,000, up to 60 days | Paid in full, up to 90 days |
| Cancer care | Paid in full | Paid in full | Paid in full |
Close Care has an annual maximum of USD 500,000, semi-private hospital rooms and lower limits.
Optional modules
Cigna lists optional modules including International Outpatient (consultations with practitioners and specialists, prescribed outpatient drugs, physiotherapy and more), International Vision and Dental, International Health and Wellbeing, and International Medical Evacuation. Some benefits have waiting periods: pre-natal and post-natal care, for example, is available once the mother has been covered for 12 months, and Cigna notes this may be 24 months depending on where treatment occurs (cignaglobal.com, optional benefits, checked 5 October 2026).
Pricing
Cigna does not publish a price list; you get a premium through its online quote tool. On the outpatient module you can choose a deductible of USD 0, 150, 500, 1,000 or 1,500 and a cost share of 0% to 30%, with an out-of-pocket maximum of USD 3,000; the core plan has its own deductible options (cignaglobal.com, checked 5 October 2026).
What to check for the Netherlands
Cigna’s homepage does not list Dutch hospitals; use its provider search or ask Cigna which hospital in your city bills it directly. If you live or work in the Netherlands, remember that Cigna cover comes on top of compulsory Dutch insurance, not instead of it.
Aetna International: Full Profile
Aetna International describes itself as combining “the combined resources of CVS Health® and Aetna®” and cites “provider network access in 200+ countries and territories” (aetnainternational.com, checked 5 October 2026). Its website is organised around employers, brokers and members, with a member website, telehealth services and pre- and post-assignment coordination services.
Plans and pricing
On 5 October 2026 aetnainternational.com did not list individual plan names, benefit schedules or prices. Earlier versions of this comparison named individual Aetna plans and prices; we could not verify them and have removed them. If your employer offers Aetna International cover, ask for the benefit schedule; if you are buying for yourself, ask a broker whether Aetna offers you a plan at all.
What to check for the Netherlands
The homepage gives no provider count or list of Dutch hospitals; ask for the in-network list for your city. The same Dutch rule applies: if you live or work here, Aetna cover does not replace Dutch health insurance.
Head-to-Head: What You Can Actually Compare
Premium Costs
Neither insurer publishes a price list. Cigna quotes individuals online; Aetna works through employers and brokers. Compare quotes for the same cover, deductible and modules.
Both come on top of the Dutch basic premium if you live or work in the Netherlands: the average basic premium in 2026 is €157 a month, according to the Rijksoverheid.
How Large Are the Cigna and Aetna Networks, and Which Dutch Hospitals Are In-Network?
Cigna Global cites more than 200 markets and territories and 2.4 million health professionals, and Aetna International cites provider network access in 200+ countries and territories (cignaglobal.com and aetnainternational.com, both checked 5 October 2026). Neither homepage lists which Dutch hospitals bill the insurer directly. For a Netherlands-based expat, the useful check is the insurer’s own provider search for your city and the hospital you would actually use, because a global headline number says little about direct billing in Amsterdam, Eindhoven or The Hague.
Mental Health Coverage
Cigna includes mental and behavioural health care in all four core tiers, with limits that rise from USD 3,000 (Close Care) and USD 5,000 (Silver) to paid in full on Platinum. For Aetna International, no individual benefit schedule was published.
Maternity
At Cigna, pre-natal and post-natal care sits in the optional outpatient module with a 12-month waiting period (possibly 24 months, depending on where treatment occurs). If you live in the Netherlands and are pregnant, your Dutch basic insurance covers maternity care under the basic package; see our guide on health insurance add-ons in the Netherlands for what supplementary policies add.
Portability
An international policy is meant to cover you in more than one country. Check what happens to your policy and premium when you move, and remember the Dutch obligation applies from the day you arrive if you come to live or work here. See our cost of living guide for the Netherlands for the wider budget.
Cigna vs Aetna vs SafetyWing: Budget Alternative
SafetyWing sells Nomad Insurance, aimed at people travelling or living abroad.
What SafetyWing lists (safetywing.com, checked 5 October 2026):
- Essential: from USD 62.72 per 4 weeks for ages 10 to 39; cover for up to 364 days at a time; a USD 250,000 overall limit; emergency dental up to USD 1,000; lost luggage, travel delays and emergency evacuation; up to 30 days of medical cover in your home country
- Complete: from USD 177.50 a month for ages 18 to 39; everything in Essential plus ongoing cover that is renewable indefinitely, wellness therapies, mental health support and cancer treatment
- Cover across 180+ countries; US cover is extra
What Essential does not cover, according to SafetyWing: pre-existing conditions, maternity care and cancer treatment, and visits to your home country only in a limited way.
Where SafetyWing fits: travel and stays abroad where you are not covered by the Dutch obligation, or extra cover for trips. It does not replace Dutch health insurance if you come to live or work in the Netherlands.
When to Choose Cigna or Aetna: Scenario Advice
Consider Cigna Global if:
You want to compare published plans and get a quote yourself. Cigna publishes its tiers, limits and modules and quotes individuals online.
Mental health care matters to you. It is part of all four core tiers, with the highest limits on Platinum.
Consider Aetna International if:
Your employer offers it. Aetna International works through employers, brokers and members; ask HR for the benefit schedule.
Consider SafetyWing if:
You need travel-style cover for a period when the Dutch obligation does not apply to you, for example a visit before you come to live or work here. SafetyWing can be bought for 4-week periods. Read more about what insurance costs to expect in the expat insurance costs guide.
For related decisions, see our guides on the 30% ruling and tax implications and average salaries in the Netherlands.
Practical Tips Before You Buy
Check the Dutch obligation first. If you come to live or work in the Netherlands, arrange Dutch health insurance within 4 months of arriving, with cover from day one.
Compare the same cover. Compare tier, annual maximum, modules, deductible and cost share, not only the headline premium.
Understand what is excluded. Read how the insurer treats pre-existing conditions and which benefits have waiting periods before you buy.
Check the cancellation terms if your situation may change during the policy year.
Currency matters. Cigna’s limits are in USD. For expats moving money between currencies, Wise is an option for paying premiums in another currency.
Conclusion
Cigna Global publishes its individual plans, limits and modules and quotes individuals online; Aetna International, on its own website, focuses on employers, brokers and members and publishes no individual plans or prices. That makes a like-for-like price comparison impossible from public sources: get a Cigna quote and, if it is available to you, an Aetna offer through your employer or a broker.
Practical guidance:
- If you live or work in the Netherlands: Dutch health insurance is compulsory; an international policy can only come on top of it.
- If your employer offers Aetna International cover: ask for the benefit schedule and compare it with what you need.
- If you want to buy international cover yourself: Cigna Global publishes its plans and quotes online.
- If you need travel-style cover where the Dutch obligation does not apply: SafetyWing is one option.
For more on the expat insurance market in the Netherlands, see our guides on the best expat insurance options and health insurance add-ons. You can also use the tools on this site to estimate your likely healthcare costs.
External source: Government.nl — When do I need to take out health insurance if I come to live in the Netherlands? — official information on the Dutch obligation.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is cheaper, Cigna or Aetna international health insurance?
There is no published price comparison. Cigna Global gives individual quotes through its online quote tool, and Aetna International did not publish individual plan names or prices on its website on 5 October 2026 (it is organised around employers, brokers and members). Price depends on age, region, deductible and the modules you add, so request quotes for the same cover level from Cigna and, through your employer or a broker, from Aetna.
Do I need international health insurance in the Netherlands?
Usually not instead of Dutch insurance. The Dutch government says that if you come to live or work in the Netherlands you must take out Dutch health insurance as quickly as possible and no later than 4 months after arriving, with cover from the day you arrive, even if you already have a medical insurance policy in another country. The exception it names is an employer outside the Netherlands; EU civil servants are covered by JSIS, and foreign students should check their situation on Studyinholland.nl (government.nl, checked 5 October 2026). An international policy can still make sense alongside Dutch cover, or if one of those exceptions applies to you.
How does Cigna compare to Dutch basisverzekering?
They serve different purposes. Dutch basic insurance (basisverzekering) is compulsory if you live or work in the Netherlands and covers the basic package through the Dutch system; the average basic premium in 2026 is €157 a month, according to the Rijksoverheid. Cigna Global is an international policy you build from a core plan plus optional modules, with cover in more than 200 markets and territories. It does not replace the Dutch obligation.
Does Aetna International cover dental?
Aetna International did not publish individual plan documents on its website on 5 October 2026, so we cannot say what an individual plan covers. If you get Aetna cover through an employer, ask for the benefit schedule for dental. At Cigna Global, routine dental and vision care is an optional module (International Vision and Dental), while the Close Care core plan includes emergency inpatient dental treatment up to USD 2,500.
How does the claims process work for Cigna and Aetna?
Cigna Global describes its claims process on its member pages; Aetna International members use its member website. Whether a hospital bills the insurer directly depends on the provider, so ask your insurer before treatment whether your Dutch hospital has a direct-billing arrangement, and keep your invoices if you need to claim afterwards.
Can I switch between Cigna and Aetna?
Check the cancellation terms of your current policy and how the new insurer treats pre-existing conditions before you switch; a new policy is underwritten again. If you are moving to Dutch health insurance because you now live or work in the Netherlands, the government says to take it out no later than 4 months after arriving.
How big are the Cigna and Aetna provider networks?
Cigna Global cites coverage in more than 200 markets and territories, with 2.4 million health professionals and 24/7 customer service centres in more than 50 languages (cignaglobal.com, checked 5 October 2026). Aetna International cites provider network access in 200+ countries and territories but gives no provider count on its homepage (aetnainternational.com, checked 5 October 2026). Neither homepage lists which Dutch hospitals bill them directly, so ask for the in-network provider list for your city before you buy.
What are the annual benefit limits on Cigna Global plans?
Cigna Global's plans-in-detail page lists an annual overall benefit maximum per person of USD 500,000 on Close Care, USD 1,000,000 on Silver, USD 2,000,000 on Gold and paid in full on Platinum (cignaglobal.com, checked 5 October 2026). Individual benefits such as advanced imaging, rehabilitation, home nursing or mental health care have their own limits per tier, so compare the benefit you actually expect to use rather than only the headline maximum.
Is SafetyWing a real alternative to Cigna and Aetna?
For some situations. SafetyWing lists its Nomad Insurance Essential plan from USD 62.72 per 4 weeks for ages 10 to 39, with a USD 250,000 overall limit, and a Complete plan from USD 177.50 a month for ages 18 to 39 (safetywing.com, checked 31 October 2026). Essential does not cover pre-existing conditions, maternity care or cancer treatment. Like Cigna and Aetna, it does not replace Dutch health insurance if you come to live or work in the Netherlands.