Menzis Health Insurance Review for Expats 2026

💡 Looking for a complete banking comparison? Read Best banking for expats in the Netherlands 2026 — covers ABN, ING, Bunq, Wise, Revolut & 5 others by expat use case.

Quick answer: Honest Menzis health insurance review for expats in 2026. Premiums, coverage, supplementary options, and how it compares to other Dutch health insurers.

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.

Where a.s.r. fits in: a.s.r. offers three basisverzekering variants rather than Menzis’s Budget / Select / Plus split, and the only published difference between them is the non-contracted reimbursement level: Bewuste Keuze a maximum of 65%, Ruime Keuze up to 85% (75% for GGZ and district nursing), and Eigen Keuze 100% at contracted and non-contracted providers, with 100% free hospital choice at Dutch hospitals on all three (asr.nl/zorgverzekering/basisverzekering, checked 17 September 2026). Its supplementary range runs ZorgBasis, ZorgBewust, ZorgGoed, ZorgBeter and ZorgBest from EUR 4.95 a month, with 3 to 18 physiotherapy treatments a year depending on the level and contraception reimbursed at 100%; abroad cover and glasses are separate modules (asr.nl/zorgverzekering/aanvullende-verzekering, checked 17 September 2026). The structural difference worth knowing is dental — at a.s.r. it is not part of the supplementary packages at all, but a separate tandartsverzekering (asr.nl/zorgverzekering/tandartsverzekering, checked 17 September 2026). The site is Dutch-language; the English entry URLs we tried returned a 404 on 17 September 2026.

Check a.s.r. health insurance →

Compare Dutch health insurance options with our Health Insurance Wizard →

Real-World Experience: What Expats Say About Menzis

These are representative, not exceptional. Menzis works well for day-to-day needs and the gaps are manageable for most expats.

Menzis for Families

Families with children get full coverage for children under 18 at no additional basic premium — the same as all Dutch insurers. But a few Menzis-specific points are worth noting.

Kraamzorg in northern Netherlands. Menzis has contracted agreements with kraamzorg (postnatal home care) providers across the Netherlands, with particularly strong coverage in their home regions of Groningen, Drenthe, and Overijssel. If you are based in the north and planning a family, the quality and availability of contracted postnatal care is genuinely better than average.

Children’s dental. Children under 18 have dental covered under the basic package — no supplementary insurance needed. Supplementary dental coverage at Menzis becomes relevant once your children reach adulthood. For families with young children, the absence of supplementary dental need for the children reduces the overall family insurance cost.

Paediatric specialists. Menzis’s contracted paediatric specialist network is strong in university hospital cities including Groningen (UMCG), Nijmegen (Radboudumc), and Enschede. For families in these areas, the contracted specialist access is meaningful.

Menzis and the Inburgering Exam

For expats who are required to complete the Dutch civic integration exam (inburgeringsexamen), health insurance is a necessary background condition. You cannot receive the civic integration contribution from your municipality without being properly registered, and proper registration includes health insurance.

Menzis, like all Dutch insurers, does not have a specific inburgering programme. But their regional ties in northern and eastern Netherlands — where many integration courses are run through municipal partners — means their customer service in these regions is slightly more attuned to new arrivals. This is a soft benefit, not a structural one.

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.

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

Menzis Versus CZ: A Direct Comparison

These two insurers come up together constantly in expat comparison discussions. Both are national, both are non-profit, both have broadly comparable coverage. Here is how they compare on the factors that actually matter:

For expats in Amsterdam, Rotterdam, or Utrecht, the practical difference between Menzis and CZ is small. Both have contracted agreements with all major hospitals in those cities. Customer satisfaction is comparable. Premium differences year-to-year can go either way.

Menzis has a slight edge in northern and eastern cities (Groningen, Eindhoven, Arnhem, Enschede) where their regional roots mean a denser specialist network. CZ has a slight edge in North Brabant (Eindhoven, Tilburg, Den Bosch) and Zeeland.

The most practical advice: check current premiums on Independer for your specific situation (age, eigen risico preference, supplementary needs) in any given November. The cheapest option shifts year to year.

Menzis and Mental Health Care: What Expats Need to Know

Under Menzis’s basic insurance, mental health care (GGZ — geestelijke gezondheidszorg) is covered following a referral from your GP. The referral pathway:

Step 1: Visit your GP (huisarts) and explain your symptoms. Dutch GPs are trained to make initial assessments of mental health concerns and to write referrals for the appropriate level of care.

Step 2: Your GP refers you to either:

• A POH-GGZ (praktijkondersteuner huisarts GGZ): A mental health support worker based in the GP practice. This is for mild to moderate concerns and has no waiting list.
• Basis GGZ (primary psychological care): For moderate conditions requiring structured therapy.
• Specialistische GGZ: For more serious or complex mental health conditions.

The waiting list reality. Contracted GGZ providers in the Netherlands — those covered at full rate by basic insurance — have long waiting lists. In major cities, waiting times of 6–18 months for a first appointment with a contracted specialist GGZ are not unusual. This affects all Dutch insurers, including Menzis. It is a systemic capacity problem, not a Menzis-specific one.

Private English-speaking therapists. Many expats opt for private English-speaking therapists who are not in the contracted GGZ network. Under Menzis Plus (restitutiepolis), these are reimbursed at the full NZa rate. Under Menzis Budget or Select (naturapolis), reimbursement is at 75–80% of the NZa rate for non-contracted providers.

If accessing English-language therapy is a priority, the Menzis Plus restitutiepolis is worth the premium difference specifically for this reason.

The Inburgering Connection: Health Insurance and Integration

For expats who are following the Dutch civic integration pathway (inburgeringsexamen), understanding the health system is explicitly part of the curriculum. But there is also a practical connection.

If you are receiving support from your municipality for language classes or civic integration, the municipality typically requires proof of health insurance registration as part of your records. Menzis’s policy documents — while in Dutch — serve this purpose. The policy confirmation letter (acceptatiebewijs) is your proof of coverage.

Some municipalities in northern Netherlands, where Menzis has strong roots, have historically had a slightly higher proportion of residents insured with Menzis. Municipal social workers in these areas often have practical experience helping new residents navigate Menzis specifically, which can be a modest practical advantage for expats who are newly arrived and working with municipal integration support.

Cost Over Multiple Years: What Menzis Actually Saves

To understand the real value of Menzis’s lower premiums, it helps to calculate over the duration of a typical expat stay.

Assumption: You stay in the Netherlands for four years. Menzis vs Zilveren Kruis Plus (restitutiepolis), both with Aanvullend 2/Plus supplementary. Typical premium difference: EUR 10/month.

EUR 480 is not transformative but it is real. On a per-year basis it is roughly the cost of a short weekend trip within Europe.

The counter-argument: if Zilveren Kruis’s better English support saves you two or three hours of frustrating phone calls and translation work per year, your implicit value of that time determines whether the saving is worthwhile.

Menzis and the Nurse Practitioner System in the Netherlands

One aspect of Dutch primary care that surprises many expats is the role of the huisarts (GP) and the triage system that applies to out-of-hours care. Understanding this helps you use your Menzis insurance effectively.

In-hours GP care: During normal practice hours (typically 8am–5pm weekdays), you contact your GP practice directly. In the Netherlands, GP practices often have a triage assistant (doktersassistente or praktijkassistente) who handles initial contact and determines whether you need a same-day appointment, a scheduled appointment, or a phone consultation. This is covered under basic insurance with no eigen risico.

Out-of-hours care (huisartsenpost): In the evenings, weekends, and public holidays, you contact the huisartsenpost (GP out-of-hours centre) for your region rather than your own GP. Menzis covers this under the basic policy. In northern Netherlands particularly, Menzis has strong contracted relationships with huisartsenpost services.

Accident and emergency (SEH): Emergency departments at Dutch hospitals are for genuine emergencies (serious injury, chest pain, difficulty breathing, etc.). Going to A&E for something that should be handled by a GP is common in some countries, but in the Netherlands the huisartsenpost is the correct first contact for most urgent but non-life-threatening situations.

This matters for your Menzis insurance specifically: using the correct pathway (GP → specialist referral) ensures your care is covered. Going directly to a specialist without a GP referral is generally not covered under the basic insurance.

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.

External source: Zorgverzekeringslijn — onafhankelijke info — independent information on this topic.