Menzis Health Insurance Review for Expats 2026

I have had two Dutch health insurers since moving to the Netherlands. My first was a random choice made under time pressure. My second — and current — insurer is Menzis, and I switched to them based on a specific combination of lower premium and a very honest assessment from a Dutch colleague who had used them for six years.

This review covers what I have actually found, what the data shows, and what I think expats specifically should know before choosing Menzis.

Menzis at a Glance

Who Is Menzis?

Menzis is a Dutch non-profit mutual health insurer — meaning it does not have shareholders or distribute profits. Surplus revenue is reinvested in care quality or returned to policyholders. This matters modestly in practice but is part of their identity and ethos.

They were founded in 1900 in the northern Netherlands as a regional ziekenfonds (sick fund), and their roots in that region are still reflected in their particularly strong network in Groningen, Drenthe, Overijssel, and Gelderland. They have since expanded nationally and are a full-service insurer available to anyone in the Netherlands.

Their non-profit structure and regional roots tend to attract policyholders who value community-oriented healthcare values and competitive pricing over premium service features.

Basic Insurance (Basisverzekering) Policy Options

Like all Dutch insurers, Menzis’s basic package coverage is identical to every other insurer — it is set by law. What differs is the price, contracted network, and service model.

Menzis Budget

Type: Naturapolis — contracted network Premium (2026 estimate): EUR 143–148/month Eigen risico: Standard EUR 385 (can raise to EUR 885)

The Budget policy is Menzis’s cheapest option. It is a naturapolis, meaning you use contracted healthcare providers and costs are covered at 100% for contracted providers. Non-contracted providers are reimbursed at a lower rate (~75% NZa tariff).

Good for: Budget-conscious policyholders in areas with good Menzis contractor coverage (particularly northern/eastern Netherlands).

Not ideal for: Expats who want maximum flexibility or who specifically need non-contracted providers.

Menzis Select

Type: Naturapolis — contracted network Premium (2026 estimate): EUR 149–157/month Key difference from Budget: A broader contracted network with a wider selection of physiotherapy and mental health care providers. Some additional flexibility on referral pathways.

Good for: Most expats who want solid coverage with a moderate premium.

Menzis Plus

Type: Restitutiepolis — any registered Dutch provider Premium (2026 estimate): EUR 155–165/month Key difference: You can use any registered Dutch healthcare provider and be reimbursed at the full NZa tariff. No contracted network restriction.

Good for: Expats who want full flexibility to choose their own specialists, hospitals, and therapists without network constraints. This is particularly relevant for expats accessing English-language therapists or specialist clinics that may not be on the Menzis contracted list.

Coverage: What the Basic Package Includes

As with all Dutch insurers, the basic package is legally defined:

Menzis-specific note on mental health care: Menzis has contracted agreements with a range of GGZ (mental health) providers. In their northern regions, this network is strong. In Amsterdam and Rotterdam, contracted GGZ providers are available but the sector-wide waiting list problem applies — publicly contracted GGZ in the Netherlands has waiting times of 6–18 months across most insurers. Private English-language therapists (often not GGZ-contracted) are reimbursed at a lower rate or not at all on a Budget policy; the Plus (restitutiepolis) policy gives better options.

Supplementary Insurance (Aanvullende Verzekering)

The supplementary options are where Menzis adds genuine coverage for things outside the basic package. Here is what they offer:

Basis Aanvullend

Cost (2026 estimate): EUR 8–12/month Covers:

• Dental check-up and x-rays (EUR 200/year)
• Limited physiotherapy top-up (beyond 9 sessions: up to 6 additional sessions)
• Some alternative medicine (EUR 100/year)

For expats: Adequate if you just want basic dental coverage for check-ups.

Basis Plus Aanvullend

Cost (2026 estimate): EUR 15–22/month Covers:

• Dental treatment EUR 500–750/year (fillings, x-rays, basic crown work)
• Physiotherapy top-up (up to 18 additional sessions)
• Glasses EUR 100/year
• Travel vaccinations (some)
• Some alternative medicine EUR 200/year

For expats: A good mid-range supplement if you wear glasses and use dental care regularly.

Extra Aanvullend

Cost (2026 estimate): EUR 28–40/month (tier-dependent) Covers:

• Dental EUR 1,000–2,500/year (including crowns, inlays, some orthodontic work)
• Physiotherapy: unlimited (up to 50+ sessions depending on tier)
• Glasses EUR 200–300/year
• Travel vaccinations and travel health care
• Alternative medicine EUR 300–400/year
• Preventive health check

For expats: This tier is relevant if you have significant dental needs, rely heavily on physiotherapy, or value full coverage. At EUR 28–40/month, the dental coverage alone often pays for itself if you need crown or restoration work.

Tandarts Aanvullend (Dental Focus)

Cost (2026 estimate): EUR 14–20/month Covers: Dental treatment only, up to EUR 500–2,500/year depending on tier. No other supplements.

For expats: If dental is your primary concern, this is more cost-effective than a full supplement tier.

Customer Service: What to Expect

Menzis’s customer service is conducted primarily in Dutch. Their English support is available but not their core strength.

Online (My Menzis portal): Manages claims, views policy, submits documents. Available in Dutch; browser auto-translate works reasonably well. Most routine tasks (submitting a claim, checking reimbursement status, updating your address) can be done entirely online.

Phone: Standard working hours, Monday–Friday. English-speaking staff are available but may require waiting or a call-back. For complex queries (coverage questions, claims disputes), having someone who speaks Dutch available to assist you is genuinely useful.

Response times: Based on feedback from the expat community and published Klantenmonitor data, Menzis scores well for routine claim processing (typically 5–10 working days) and average to good on more complex queries.

App: The Menzis app (iOS/Android) handles basic functions — checking your policy, viewing deductible status, submitting some claims. Rated 3.8/5 on iOS, which is adequate.

Comparison: ONVZ is significantly better for English-language support. Zilveren Kruis is comparable to Menzis. CZ is similar. For expats comfortable with digital self-service and occasional use of translation tools, Menzis’s service level is fine. For expats who anticipate needing extensive phone or written communication in English, ONVZ is a better fit.

Claims Process

For standard claims (physio, dental under supplementary, glasses), the process is:

1. Get treatment at a registered provider
2. The provider sends the invoice directly to Menzis (most Dutch providers do this automatically)
3. Menzis processes within 5–10 working days
4. Reimbursement appears in your bank account

For treatments where you pay upfront (common for non-contracted providers, some complementary medicine, some dental work):

1. Pay the provider
2. Upload the invoice to My Menzis or post/email it
3. Menzis reimburses within 10–15 working days

Eigen risico tracking: Menzis automatically tracks your eigen risico accumulation each year. You can view how much of your EUR 385 has been used in My Menzis. Once you hit EUR 385 in a calendar year, Menzis covers 100% of remaining eligible costs (no further deduction for the rest of that year).

What Menzis Does Well

Competitive premiums: Menzis is consistently in the bottom third of Dutch insurers by price. Over 3–5 years, saving EUR 10–15/month compared to a comparable policy elsewhere adds up to EUR 360–900.

Non-profit ethos: While this is not unique to Menzis, it aligns with their pricing strategy and tends to mean that premium increases are tied more closely to actual healthcare cost increases rather than shareholder return pressures.

Northern/Eastern Netherlands network: If you are based in Groningen, Enschede, Arnhem, Nijmegen, or surrounding regions, Menzis’s contracted network is particularly strong and dense.

Supplementary dental value: Their Tandarts supplement tiers are competitively priced relative to the coverage provided.

What Menzis Does Less Well

English-language interface: Website and app are Dutch-first. Manageable but not ideal for expats who want everything in English.

National brand recognition: Less known than Zilveren Kruis or VGZ outside their home regions. Less likely to have a collective employer scheme with your company if you work for a large multinational (which often partner with Zilveren Kruis or VGZ).

App polish: Their digital experience lags behind the major players — the app is functional but not exceptional.

Menzis vs Other Major Insurers

2026 estimates. Always compare current exact premiums before committing.

Compare Menzis vs other Dutch health insurers on Independer

My Verdict

Menzis is a genuinely solid choice for expats who prioritise value and are comfortable using a Dutch-first digital service with translation tools. Their premiums are among the lowest in the market, their coverage is equivalent to any other insurer at the basic level, and their supplementary packages are well-priced.

They are particularly good for expats based outside Amsterdam and Rotterdam — in the northern and eastern Netherlands where their network and community roots are strongest.

Where I would hesitate to recommend Menzis specifically: if you need high-quality English-language customer service on a regular basis, or if your employer already has a collective scheme with a different insurer at a meaningful discount.

Use Independer to compare current premiums across all major insurers. The difference between the cheapest and most expensive comparable policy can be EUR 200–400/year — significant over a multi-year stay.

Further Reading on ExpatNetherlandsHub

• Best Dutch health insurance plans compared — all major insurers
• VGZ health insurance review for expats
• How to find a job in the Netherlands
• Short-stay furnished housing for your first months
• Dutch utilities explained for expats
• Car insurance in the Netherlands for expats
• Retiring in the Netherlands: health and pensions
• DeGiro review for expat investors in the Netherlands

FAQ

Is Menzis a good health insurer for expats in the Netherlands?

Menzis is a solid, well-regarded Dutch health insurer that works well for many expats, particularly those based in northern and eastern Netherlands (Groningen, Drenthe, Overijssel, Gelderland) where Menzis has strong regional roots and a dense contracted network. Their premiums are consistently among the most competitive in the Dutch market, often EUR 5–15/month cheaper than comparable policies from Zilveren Kruis or VGZ. Their customer satisfaction ratings are good. For expats seeking English-language support specifically, they are serviceable but not as polished as ONVZ. For expats who prioritise value and are comfortable using online self-service or basic phone support, Menzis is a strong option.

What are Menzis’s current basic insurance premiums for 2026?

Menzis basic insurance (basisverzekering) premiums for 2026 are approximately EUR 143–157/month for a standard adult policy with EUR 385 eigen risico (the mandatory minimum excess). The exact premium depends on your chosen policy variant (Budget, Select, or Plus) and whether you choose a naturapolis (contracted network) or restitutiepolis (any registered provider). Raising your eigen risico to EUR 885 reduces the premium by approximately EUR 15–18/month. Check current exact pricing on Independer or directly at menzis.nl, as premiums are updated annually and vary slightly by region.

Does Menzis offer English-language customer service?

Menzis offers English support primarily through their online portal and written communications, and their customer service line has English-speaking staff available, though this is less consistently available than at ONVZ. Their website (menzis.nl) is in Dutch, though key sections can be translated with browser auto-translate. The Menzis app and My Menzis online portal provide policy management in Dutch with some English functionality. Expats with basic Dutch ability or who are comfortable using translation tools generally manage Menzis without issues. Those who want fully English-language customer service should consider ONVZ, which specialises in expat and international clients.

What supplementary insurance does Menzis offer for expats?

Menzis offers several tiers of supplementary insurance (aanvullende verzekering) branded as Basis Aanvullend, Basis Plus Aanvullend, Extra Aanvullend, and Tandarts Aanvullend (dental-only). The most relevant for expats are the Extra Aanvullend tiers which cover dental treatment up to EUR 1,000–2,500/year, full physiotherapy coverage, glasses up to EUR 200/year, and some alternative medicine. The dental-only supplement (from around EUR 12–18/month) is worth considering if you need regular dental care. Full supplementary packages covering dental, glasses, and extended physio run approximately EUR 25–40/month. Compare on Independer for exact 2026 pricing.

What is the Menzis contracted hospital network like?

Menzis has contracted agreements with the vast majority of Dutch hospitals, which means standard hospital treatment is covered at 100% at contracted providers. Their network is particularly dense in their regional strongholds — Groningen, Drenthe, Overijssel, and Gelderland. In Amsterdam, Rotterdam, and Utrecht, Menzis contracts with all major hospitals (AMC, UMC Utrecht, Erasmus MC, etc.), so urban expats are not disadvantaged. If you choose the Menzis naturapolis and need treatment at a non-contracted provider, reimbursement drops to typically 75–80% of the NZa tariff. Checking that your preferred GP and local hospital are contracted before committing is always worthwhile — Menzis’s website has a zorgzoeker (care finder) tool for this.

How does Menzis compare to CZ and Zilveren Kruis for expats?

Menzis, CZ, and Zilveren Kruis are all mainstream Dutch insurers at a comparable service level, with premiums within EUR 5–15/month of each other. Menzis tends to have slightly lower premiums than Zilveren Kruis but a slightly smaller national network. CZ is strong in North Brabant and Zeeland; Menzis is stronger in northern and eastern Netherlands. All three have adequate English support. For expats in Amsterdam or Rotterdam, the practical differences are small — hospital networks, coverage, and service quality are broadly comparable. The most meaningful factors are premium cost (check annually, as it shifts), supplementary package quality relative to your personal needs, and whether your employer offers a collective discount with any of them.

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