Dutch Health Insurance for Expats: Complete Guide 2026

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How the Dutch Health Insurance System Works: Overview

Dutch Health Insurance for Expats: The Short Answers

This section answers the questions most people arrive with. Each answer links to the fuller explanation further down the page.

Is Health Insurance Mandatory in the Netherlands for Expats?

Yes. Mandatory health insurance in the Netherlands applies to expats the same way it applies to Dutch nationals: if you legally live in the Netherlands, or you work here and fall under Dutch social insurance, you must have a basisverzekering with a Dutch insurer. Nationality, age and health status make no difference, and insurers are legally required to accept you for the basic policy (Rijksoverheid).

You have 4 months from arrival to arrange it. If you take it out within that period, the cover is backdated to the day you arrived and you pay premium from that day; if you take it out later, you are not insured retroactively and care received in the meantime is not reimbursed (Government.nl). Missing the deadline leads to a letter from the CAK, then a fine, and eventually a policy taken out for you. The details, including the fine amount, are in the deadline section below.

The main groups that are not obliged are posted workers who stay in their home country’s social security system, some cross-border workers, and students who only study and do not work — see the student section below for those rules.

What Do Expats and International Workers Need for Dutch Health Insurance?

The Dutch health insurance obligation follows residence and work, not your passport. Health insurance in the Netherlands for international workers is triggered as soon as you are covered by Dutch social insurance, which is normally the case from your first day on a Dutch payroll or as a registered self-employed person.

What you practically need before you can sign up:

• A BSN: issued when you register at your gemeente. Insurers ask for it on the application form.
• A Dutch address: the address you registered with the gemeente.
• A Dutch bank account or IBAN: for the monthly direct debit (automatische incasso).
• A DigiD: not required for the insurance itself, but you need one to apply for zorgtoeslag and to deal with the Belastingdienst.

If your BSN is still pending, you are not exempt. A Dutch policy taken out within 4 months of arrival still covers you from the day you arrived (Government.nl); for cover before you arrive, see the temporary coverage section below.

What Types of Dutch Health Insurance Are There for Expats?

Dutch health insurance for expats comes in three layers, and they are often confused with each other:

1. Basisverzekering (basic insurance): mandatory, with a package fixed by the government and therefore identical at every insurer. Premiums in 2026 average €157 per month (Rijksoverheid), depending on the insurer, with a statutory eigen risico of €385 per year.
2. Aanvullende verzekering (supplementary insurance): optional, differs per insurer, and an insurer may refuse you for it (Rijksoverheid). The premium depends on the insurer and on what is included.
3. International or expat policies: products such as SafetyWing or international insurers for globally mobile staff. These are useful as bridge cover or alongside Dutch cover, but they do not satisfy the legal obligation if you are required to have a basisverzekering.

Within the basisverzekering there is a further distinction in policy form. With a naturapolis, the insurer contracts providers and settles bills with them directly, and care outside the contracted network may be reimbursed at a lower rate (Rijksoverheid). The restitutiepolis, which let you choose any provider, has not been sold since 2025: insurers converted those policies into combinatiepolissen (NZa). A combinatiepolis reimburses some care types in full at any provider and applies natura rules to others; at Zilveren Kruis, CZ and VGZ the policy with the most free choice is the most expensive basic policy (see the table below), and some insurers sell several variants side by side — a.s.r.’s three basisverzekering variants, described below, are an example of how that works in practice. Our guide to what Dutch health insurance covers works through these policy forms in more detail.

How Much Does Dutch Health Insurance Cost for Expats in 2026?

The basisverzekering premium in 2026 depends on the insurer and policy form (for example a.s.r. from €149.80 and CZ from €156.95 to €177.50 a month, checked 31 October 2026); supplementary cover comes on top if you want it. On top of the premium you carry the statutory eigen risico of €385 a year, which you can raise voluntarily by up to €500 to €885 in exchange for a lower premium; GP visits, midwife and maternity care and all basic care for children under 18 fall outside it (Rijksoverheid, rijksoverheid.nl/vraag-en-antwoord/zorgverzekering/eigen-risico-zorgverzekering, checked 24 October 2026). Your employer also pays an income-related contribution through payroll (the werkgeversheffing Zvw, 6.10% in 2026 according to the Belastingdienst), which you do not see as a premium. Lower earners can get part of the premium back through zorgtoeslag, explained in the zorgtoeslag section below.

Which Dutch Health Insurance Providers Do Expats Use?

This page looks at Zilveren Kruis, CZ, VGZ, Menzis and a.s.r. Because the basic package is identical by law, the differences between Dutch health insurance providers for expats come down to premium, how much you get back for care from providers without a contract, the supplementary packages on offer, and how well they handle English-language service. Published premiums and policies per insurer are in the provider table further down this page, and a.s.r.’s policy variants are described directly underneath it.

How Does Expat Netherlands Hub Compare Health Insurance for Internationals?

If you are looking for expat health insurance reviews for the Netherlands, or for the best health insurance for expats in the Netherlands, it helps to know what our comparisons are based on.

We have not tested insurers or been treated under their policies. What we compare is published information: premiums and policy conditions as the insurers publish them, what the supplementary packages include, how reimbursement works for non-contracted care, and whether the insurer offers English-language sign-up and service. Where we quote a figure, we name the source and the date we checked it. That is a documentation comparison, not a verdict on service quality, and it is no substitute for reading the policy conditions before you sign.

For that comparison applied to specific policies, see our best expat insurance in the Netherlands guide and our overview of the best Dutch health insurance plans for 2026.

The Dutch Healthcare System for Expats

Health insurance is only one half of the picture. The Dutch healthcare system for expats runs on a gatekeeper model: your GP (huisarts) is the entry point for almost everything, and you generally need a referral before a specialist, hospital department or psychologist will see you. Insurance determines who pays; the healthcare system determines how you get access. If you want the access side explained separately, see our guide to the Dutch healthcare system explained.

The Basisverzekering: Your Mandatory Basic Insurance

The basisverzekering (basic insurance) is the foundation of Dutch healthcare. Every person who legally resides or works in the Netherlands must have one, apart from the exceptions mentioned above, such as posted workers and students who only study. Age, health status and nationality make no difference.

What It Covers

The basic package is defined by the Dutch government and is identical across all insurers. This means no matter which insurer you choose, the basic coverage is the same. It includes:

• GP (huisarts) care: Fully covered with no eigen risico applied
• Hospital and specialist care: Covered after eigen risico
• Prescription medication: Covered after eigen risico (for medications on the approved list)
• Mental healthcare: Basic and specialist GGZ, after eigen risico (you normally need a GP referral)
• Maternity care: Covered, including prenatal care, delivery, and postnatal home care (kraamzorg at home carries a statutory contribution of €5.70 per hour in 2026)
• Ambulance transport: Covered after eigen risico
• Physiotherapy: For adults, from the 21st treatment for conditions on the chronic list, with a few exceptions covered earlier; children under 18 get up to 18 treatments
• Medical aids: Covered as specified, sometimes with a personal contribution
• Dental care for children under 18: Check-ups and treatment, without eigen risico (braces, crowns, bridges and implants are not covered)
• Smoking cessation support: Up to 3 stop-smoking programmes a year

What It Does NOT Cover

• Dental care for adults: Only surgical dental care and X-rays are in the basic package; the rest requires supplementary insurance or out-of-pocket payment
• Physiotherapy for adults with conditions not on the chronic list: Not covered under basic insurance, apart from the exceptions above
• Ordinary glasses and contact lenses: Not covered; medically necessary lenses and special glasses often are

This list follows the Rijksoverheid summary of the 2026 basic package; Zorginstituut Nederland publishes the full rules.

Choosing Your Insurer

While the basic coverage is the same everywhere, there are differences between insurers that matter:

The Main Dutch Health Insurance Providers for Expats

Premiums at the standard eigen risico, from the insurers’ own websites (checked 31 October 2026). Insurers publish their 2027 premiums before 12 November.

For expats considering international health insurance alongside or instead of Dutch coverage, see our ONVZ vs Aetna comparison.

a.s.r. is not in the table above. It splits its basisverzekering into three variants rather than one: Bewuste Keuze (natura, non-contracted care reimbursed at 65% of the average contracted price), Ruime Keuze (natura, non-contracted care at 85%, with GGZ and district nursing at 75%), and Eigen Keuze (combinatie), which pays 100% at contracted providers and 100% of the market or statutory rate at non-contracted providers, except GGZ and district nursing at 80%. a.s.r. states 100% free choice of hospital for all three, and premiums from €149.80 a month — the variants differ in what happens when your provider has no contract with the insurer, which is exactly the trade-off point 2 below is about (asr.nl/zorgverzekering/basisverzekering, checked 31 October 2026). The 2026 eigen risico is the statutory €385, which you can raise voluntarily to a maximum of €885 in exchange for a lower premium (Rijksoverheid). One practical caveat for newcomers: a.s.r. has an English health insurance page (asr.nl/en/health-insurance), but says that “all correspondence is in Dutch” (checked 31 October 2026).

Check a.s.r. health insurance →

How to Choose: What Matters

1. Premium: In the table above, the cheapest basic policy costs €149.90 and the most expensive €177.50 a month for the same basic coverage, a difference of €27.60 a month or €331.20 a year.

2. Contracted care (gecontracteerde zorg): Insurers make contracts with care providers. With a naturapolis you can still go to a provider without a contract, but the insurer may reimburse less; how much is in the policy (Rijksoverheid). In the policies above, the reimbursement for non-contracted care ranges from 65% to 100%, depending on the policy and the type of care.

3. Supplementary insurance options: If you need dental, physiotherapy, or alternative medicine coverage, compare the supplementary packages offered by each insurer.

4. Collective insurance (collectiviteit): Employers, unions and other organisations make collective arrangements with insurers. Since 2023 a collective can no longer give a discount on the basic policy; discounts on supplementary insurance are still possible (Rijksoverheid).

5. Customer service: Check how claims are submitted, whether there is an app, and in which language the insurer corresponds with you.

Comparison Tools

Not sure where to start? Our health insurance wizard guides you through a short questionnaire and recommends the policy type that fits your situation, while the insurance chooser helps you compare supplementary coverage options side by side.

Independent information on choosing a policy:

• Consumentenbond.nl: the Dutch consumer association

Compare Dutch health insurance options with our Health Insurance Wizard →

The Eigen Risico Explained

The eigen risico (own risk) is the Dutch equivalent of a deductible. In 2026, the mandatory amount is €385 per year for everyone aged 18 or over.

How It Works

• Each calendar year, you pay the first €385 of care costs that fall under the eigen risico yourself
• After that, your insurer pays the costs of care from the basic package for the rest of the year; statutory personal contributions (eigen bijdragen), for example for kraamzorg, still apply
• The counter resets to zero on January 1

What Counts Toward Your Eigen Risico

• Specialist consultations and treatments
• Hospital stays and procedures
• Prescription medication
• Mental healthcare sessions
• Ambulance transport

What Does NOT Count

• GP care (huisarts), including the out-of-hours GP post
• Midwife care and kraamzorg
• District nursing (wijkverpleging)
• Chain care (ketenzorg) for diabetes type 2, COPD and cardiovascular risk
• All basic care for children under 18

Insurers can also exclude certain providers, care programmes, medicines or aids from the eigen risico (Rijksoverheid).

Voluntary Higher Eigen Risico

You can choose to increase your eigen risico by €100, €200, €300, €400 or €500 (to a maximum of €885) in exchange for a lower monthly premium (Rijksoverheid). At CZ and VGZ the discount is €3 a month per €100 extra (at CZ not every policy offers every level), so €15 a month at the €500 maximum (VGZ: “minimaal” €15), or €180 a year against up to €500 more out of pocket if you need care (insurers’ sites, checked 31 October 2026).

In your first year you may not yet know how much care you will need, and the standard eigen risico keeps your maximum out-of-pocket amount lower.

Aanvullende Verzekering: Supplementary Insurance

Supplementary insurance (aanvullende verzekering) covers what the basisverzekering does not. Unlike basic insurance, supplementary coverage differs between insurers, an insurer may refuse you, and it can apply a waiting period before certain costs are reimbursed (Rijksoverheid).

Common Supplementary Coverage

What each package covers, and what it costs, differs per insurer: check the insurer’s own conditions.

Do You Need Supplementary Insurance?

Consider it if you:

• Need regular dental care (adults)
• Want physiotherapy for non-chronic conditions
• Use alternative medicine
• Wear glasses or contacts and want partial reimbursement
• Travel frequently outside Europe

You may skip it if you:

• Are young and healthy with no regular healthcare needs beyond GP visits
• Have good dental health and minimal specialist needs
• Prefer to pay out-of-pocket for occasional dental visits

Pregnancy and Maternity Care: What Is Covered

Prenatal Care

Prenatal care from a midwife (verloskundige) is covered by your basic insurance, and no eigen risico applies to it (Rijksoverheid). If complications arise, you are referred to a hospital-based gynaecologist (gynaecoloog), and that care is covered by basic insurance as well.

The standard prenatal schedule includes:

• An intake appointment with your midwife
• 13-week scan for physical abnormalities — optional, free of charge, only available within the scientific IMITAS study (pns.nl)
• 20-week anomaly scan (SEO) — optional and free of charge (pns.nl)
• Regular check-ups throughout the pregnancy
• NIPT (non-invasive prenatal testing) — free for all pregnant women: the government pays for it, and a NIPT on medical indication is paid by your insurer without affecting your eigen risico (pns.nl)

The Eigen Risico Exemption

This is one of the most important things to know: maternity and obstetric care does not count towards your eigen risico. Prenatal appointments, the birth and postnatal care do not draw on your deductible. Two personal contributions do apply: €5.70 an hour for kraamzorg at home, and a charge if you give birth in a hospital, birth centre or maternity hotel without a medical reason: at least €22.50 a day for the mother and €22.50 per baby, plus anything above €161.50 a day if the institution charges more (Rijksoverheid).

This applies to:

• All midwife-led care during pregnancy
• The birth (at home, at a birthing centre, or in hospital with a midwife)
• Hospital delivery costs when medically indicated
• Postnatal checkups

Kraamzorg: Postnatal Home Care

You register for kraamzorg with a kraamzorg organisation yourself; many organisations accept registrations from the 12th week of pregnancy. You are entitled to at least 24 and at most 80 hours, normally up to and including day 8 after the birth, and a shortage of maternity carers can mean you receive fewer hours than first set (Zorginstituut Nederland). Check which organisations your insurer has contracted.

For a complete walkthrough of pregnancy care in the Netherlands — including how to find a midwife, what to expect during labour, and the difference between thuisbevalling and ziekenhuisbevalling — see our guide to pregnancy and maternity care in the Netherlands for expats.

Mental Healthcare: How the Dutch System Works

Mental healthcare in the Netherlands is covered by the basisverzekering, but the system has specific rules that are worth understanding before you need it.

The GP as Gatekeeper

You cannot simply book an appointment with a psychologist or psychiatrist in the Netherlands. You first need a referral from your GP (huisarts). Your GP will assess your situation and decide which level of care is appropriate.

POH-GGZ: The First Step

A GP practice may have a POH-GGZ (Praktijkondersteuner Huisarts GGZ) — a mental health practice nurse who works within the GP practice. For mild issues your GP may suggest seeing the POH-GGZ first. Ask the practice how many appointments are possible and whether any costs apply.

Specialised GGZ Care

For more serious conditions, your GP can refer you to a psychologist (for example a GZ-psycholoog) or a psychiatrist. The basic package covers basic GGZ for mild to moderate conditions, specialist GGZ for severe and complex conditions, and the first 3 years of a stay in a GGZ institution (Rijksoverheid).

Key points about GGZ coverage:

• The eigen risico applies to basic and specialist GGZ care (Rijksoverheid)
• In the a.s.r. policies above, care from contracted providers is reimbursed at 100% and GGZ from non-contracted providers at 65%, 75% or 80% of the average contracted price, depending on the policy

Waiting Times

Waiting times for GGZ care can be long. Options if you need care sooner:

• Ask your insurer: ask whether it can help you find a provider (zorgbemiddeling)
• A practice without a contract: possible, but your policy may reimburse only part of the cost
• More resources: see our guide to mental health support for expats in the Netherlands

If you expect to need regular psychological support, check in advance which providers your insurer has contracted and what your policy reimburses elsewhere.

Physiotherapy Coverage Explained

Adults: the Chronic List and the 21st Treatment

For adults, the basisverzekering covers physiotherapy and exercise therapy for conditions on the government’s chronic list (chronische lijst) from the 21st treatment. You usually pay the first 20 treatments yourself, or through supplementary insurance (Rijksoverheid). Zorginstituut Nederland publishes the list of conditions.

A few treatments are covered earlier (Rijksoverheid):

• Pelvic floor physiotherapy for urinary incontinence, up to and including the 9th treatment
• Exercise therapy for hip or knee osteoarthritis, up to and including the 12th treatment
• Exercise therapy for severe rheumatoid arthritis or axial spondyloarthritis
• Exercise therapy for intermittent claudication, up to and including the 37th treatment
• Exercise therapy for COPD, without a maximum number of treatments

Conditions Not on the Chronic List

For adults, physiotherapy for conditions that are not on the chronic list — a sports injury or back pain, for example — is not covered by basic insurance, apart from the exceptions above. Without supplementary insurance you pay these treatments yourself.

Children Under 18

Children under 18 get up to 18 physiotherapy treatments (2 x 9) covered by basic insurance, without eigen risico (Rijksoverheid).

Supplementary Insurance for Physiotherapy

Many supplementary insurance packages (aanvullende verzekering) include a number of physiotherapy treatments a year. How many, and at what premium, differs per insurer and package, so check the conditions before you choose.

For more on what basic and supplementary insurance cover, see our guide to what Dutch health insurance covers.

Zorgtoeslag: Getting Money Back

Zorgtoeslag is a monthly government allowance designed to help people on lower and moderate incomes afford health insurance. As an expat, you may be eligible, especially in your first partial year when your annual income may be lower.

Who Can Get Zorgtoeslag in 2026?

Zorgtoeslag in 2026 is available to people with Dutch basic health insurance whose income and assets stay under the limits the Belastingdienst publishes (belastingdienst.nl, zorgtoeslag pages, checked 28 October 2026):

• Single: annual income no higher than €40,857
• Couple (with a toeslagpartner): combined annual income no higher than €51,142
• Assets: no more than €146,011 (single) or €184,633 together (couple)
• Age: 18 or older
• Insurance: You must have Dutch basic health insurance

How to Apply

1. Register for a DigiD at digid.nl (you need your BSN)
2. Log in to Mijn toeslagen (Belastingdienst / Dutch Tax Authority)
3. Submit your application with income and personal details
4. Receive monthly payments directly to your bank account

The maximum zorgtoeslag in 2026 is €129 per month without a toeslagpartner and €246 per month together with one, paid in full up to a toetsingsinkomen of €29,500; above that the amount falls with income (Belastingdienst, checked 28 October 2026).

Important: Apply as soon as you have your DigiD. You can still apply afterwards, but not indefinitely: zorgtoeslag over 2025, for example, can be applied for until 31 December 2026 (Belastingdienst).

The 4-Month Deadline: What Happens If You Are Late?

The 4 months run from your arrival, not from your BSN: you must take out Dutch health insurance no later than 4 months after arriving, with cover from the day you arrive (Government.nl).

If you are registered with a municipality but still uninsured:

1. The CAK sends a letter informing you that you are uninsured; you have 3 months to take out insurance or ask for a Wlz investigation
2. If you do not act within those 3 months, the CAK can impose a fine of €529.74 (2026: three times €176.58, the average monthly premium plus expected eigen risico); a second fine can follow
3. If you still have no insurance within a year, the CAK takes out a policy for you; for the first 12 months you pay the CAK a premium of €172.70 a month through your salary or benefit (CAK, checked 31 October 2026)

Arrange your insurance within the first few weeks of arriving to avoid this.

Temporary Coverage: Before Your Dutch Insurance Starts

There is often a gap between arriving in the Netherlands and getting your Dutch health insurance set up. You might be waiting for your BSN, comparing insurers, or simply dealing with the chaos of relocation.

During this period, SafetyWing is one option for temporary cover. SafetyWing sells travel medical insurance (the Essential plan) for people who live and work abroad, with the following features:

• Essential plan from USD 62.72 per 4 weeks for ages 10–39 (safetywing.com, checked 31 October 2026)
• Paid every 4 weeks, or paid in full for set dates of up to 364 days
• Coverage in 180+ countries, with up to 30 days of medical coverage in your home country on the Essential plan (US coverage is extra)
• Hospital stays, surgeries and medications: covered up to the policy limits (US$250,000 overall limit on the Essential plan)
• Emergency evacuations included
• Sign up before you depart, or while you are already abroad

SafetyWing is not a replacement for Dutch basisverzekering. Once your Dutch health insurance is in place, you no longer need it as bridge cover; check SafetyWing’s own terms for ending it. Because a Dutch policy taken out within 4 months is backdated to your arrival, bridge cover matters most for the period before you arrive and for anyone who is not (yet) obliged to take out Dutch insurance. If you are comparing international options at this stage, see our SafetyWing vs Cigna comparison for a detailed side-by-side analysis.

This is especially relevant for:

• The period before you arrive in the Netherlands, which a Dutch policy does not cover
• Partners or family members who are not (yet) obliged to take out Dutch insurance

Get temporary expat coverage with SafetyWing

Get SafetyWing temporary cover: Essential plan from USD 62.72 per 4 weeks (ages 10–39)

Step-by-Step: Setting Up Dutch Health Insurance

Here is the complete process from arrival to being fully insured:

Week 1: Arrival and Registration

1. Register at your gemeente and receive your BSN
2. If you took out temporary cover such as SafetyWing for your move, keep it until your Dutch policy is in place; a Dutch policy taken out within 4 months covers you from the day you arrived (Government.nl)

Week 2-3: Research and Compare

3. Compare basic insurance premiums on the insurers’ own sites
4. Check if your employer offers a collective, which can give a discount on supplementary insurance (no discount on the basic policy since 2023)
5. Decide whether you need supplementary insurance (dental, physiotherapy, etc.)

Week 3-4: Sign Up

6. Apply online with your chosen insurer (you will need your BSN, Dutch address, and Dutch bank account or IBAN)
7. Set up the monthly direct debit (automatische incasso) from your bank account
8. Receive your insurance confirmation and policy number

After Insurance Starts

9. Register with a GP (huisarts) near your home. You will need your insurance details for this.
10. Apply for zorgtoeslag via toeslagen.nl if your income qualifies
11. End any temporary cover you no longer need

How to Register with a GP (Huisarts)

In the Netherlands, the GP (huisarts) is your medical gatekeeper. You cannot see a specialist, go to the hospital (except emergencies), or access mental healthcare without a referral from your GP.

How to Find and Register

1. Search for GP practices near your home on Zorgkaartnederland.nl
2. Call or visit the practice to ask if they accept new patients (some practices have a full patient list)
3. Bring your insurance details and ID
4. Complete a registration form

Tip: Register with a GP as soon as you have your health insurance, because some practices do not take new patients. Do not wait until you are sick to find one.

As an expat, you may specifically want a GP who speaks English or who is experienced with international patients. Our guide to finding English-speaking doctors in the Netherlands covers how to search by city, what to expect from the Dutch GP system, and when you will need a referral to a specialist.

Special Situations

Expats with the 30% Ruling

The 30% ruling does not affect your health insurance requirements. You must still take out basisverzekering. Whether you qualify for zorgtoeslag depends on your toetsingsinkomen and assets, so check the Belastingdienst limits above.

Self-Employed Expats (ZZP)

If you are self-employed (ZZP’er) in the Netherlands, you must arrange your own health insurance. There is no employer contribution: besides the premium you pay the income-related Zvw contribution yourself through a tax assessment, at 4.85% in 2026 on income up to €79,409 (Belastingdienst). Carefully compare policies, as the full cost comes out of your own pocket.

Students

See the dedicated section below — Health Insurance for Students in the Netherlands — for a full breakdown of the rules by nationality and employment status.

Children

Children under 18 are insured free of charge through a parent’s basic insurance. They pay no premium and no eigen risico. Most dental care for children (check-ups and fillings, for example) is in the basic package; braces, crowns, bridges and implants are not (Rijksoverheid).

Health Insurance for Students in the Netherlands

Whether you need Dutch health insurance as a student depends on two things: your nationality and whether you work.

EU/EEA Students

If you are in the Netherlands for study purposes only and do not work, you are not allowed to take out Dutch public health insurance. You need insurance from your home country with enough cover, or private insurance. EU/EEA students may be eligible for a European Health Insurance Card (EHIC), which covers necessary medical costs during the stay; check this with your insurer at home, because it can differ per member state (Study in NL).

Non-EU/EEA Students

Non-EU students who only study also cannot take out Dutch public health insurance and need private or home-country cover with enough coverage (Study in NL). Check what your residence permit and your institution require.

Working Students

If you have a job next to your studies, Dutch basic insurance is mandatory, even if you only work a few hours a week or have a zero-hours contract (CAK). There is no minimum income for this. This means:

• You must take out basisverzekering
• You can apply for zorgtoeslag if your income and assets are low enough
• Your employer pays the income-related Zvw contribution (6.10% in 2026, up to €79,409) on top of your wages (Belastingdienst)

Internships and self-employment have separate rules: for a paid internship, students from outside the EU, EEA and Switzerland who do not live in a treaty country are insured under the Wlz if they earn at least the minimum wage, and self-employed students ask the SVB to assess their position (Study in NL).

DUO Student Finance and Zorgtoeslag

Student finance from DUO does not by itself make Dutch health insurance mandatory: the obligation comes from work. If you have Dutch basic insurance because you work, you can apply for zorgtoeslag; with an income up to €29,500 you receive the maximum of €129 a month as a single person (Belastingdienst).

For a full guide on DUO student finance for international students — including eligibility and repayment rules — see our DUO student finance guide.

Common Mistakes Expats Make

1. Waiting too long to arrange insurance: Start the process in your first week, not your fourth month.

2. Choosing the cheapest premium without checking the network: With a cheaper naturapolis, care from a provider without a contract may be reimbursed only in part.

3. Ignoring supplementary dental insurance: For adults, the basic package covers only surgical dental care and X-rays. If you have ongoing dental needs, compare what supplementary dental cover would pay against what you expect to spend.

4. Forgetting to apply for zorgtoeslag: If your income and assets are under the limits, you have to apply for it yourself.

5. Not registering with a GP immediately: Some practices do not take new patients, so find one before you get sick.

6. Assuming home country insurance is sufficient: If you live or work in the Netherlands, you must take out Dutch health insurance even if you already have a policy in another country (Government.nl).

How to Switch Health Insurance Providers

You switch Dutch health insurance at the turn of the year. In November your insurer sends your policy for the new year, and you may then switch to another insurer (Rijksoverheid).

The Switching Window

The process:

1. Compare policies once the new premiums are published (insurers publish them before 12 November)
2. Sign up with the new insurer no later than 31 December — the new insurer then cancels your old policy automatically
3. Your new policy starts on 1 January — there is no gap in coverage

If you cancel your old policy yourself by 31 December, you have until 1 February to take out a new one, which then applies retroactively from 1 January (Rijksoverheid).

Your new insurer must accept you for basic insurance, whatever your age or health, and may not charge you a higher premium for it (Rijksoverheid).

What Changes When You Switch

• Basic coverage: Identical regardless of insurer — you are not giving up or gaining any basic coverage by switching
• Premium: In the 2026 table above, the gap between the cheapest and the most expensive basic policy is €27.60 a month
• Contracted care: Check whether the hospital, therapists and other providers you use have a contract with the new insurer. If they do not, a naturapolis may reimburse less, as set out in the policy
• Supplementary insurance: You can switch supplementary coverage at the same time, but the new insurer may refuse your supplementary application or apply a waiting period. Basic insurance is always accepted; supplementary is not guaranteed. If you move only your basic insurance, your old insurer is not allowed to cancel your supplementary policy (Rijksoverheid)

If you do not want to switch insurer, you can also choose a different policy with your current insurer for the new year (Rijksoverheid).

Compare Dutch health insurance options with our Health Insurance Wizard →

How to Cancel Dutch Health Insurance When Leaving

If you leave the Netherlands, your move can affect your Dutch health insurance, and what you need to do depends on your situation (NederlandWereldwijd). The steps below follow NederlandWereldwijd, the CAK and the Belastingdienst; ask your own insurer for the details of your policy.

Step 1: Tell your insurer your move date

Give your insurer your move date in good time and ask whether your policy ends. If you emigrate and receive a Dutch pension or benefit, you may have to arrange your health insurance through the CAK (the buitenlandregeling); for that route NederlandWereldwijd advises giving your insurer your move date preferably 2 months before you leave, to avoid double costs.

Step 2: Report your departure to the municipality

If you will live outside the Netherlands for more than 8 months, you deregister with your municipality in the last 5 days before you leave (NederlandWereldwijd). Keep the confirmation you receive; your insurer may ask for it.

Do not just stop paying

Do not stop the direct debit and assume the policy lapses. Unpaid premium becomes a payment arrear; with arrears of 6 months or more your insurer reports you to the CAK and you pay a higher premium (CAK). Agree the end of the policy with your insurer in writing.

What about zorgtoeslag?

The Belastingdienst says it depends on your situation: sometimes you can still receive zorgtoeslag abroad, for example if you keep your Dutch health insurance, and sometimes you must stop it in Mijn toeslagen. Check the Belastingdienst page for people moving abroad and update your situation as soon as you know your plans.

For a broader guide on all the administrative steps involved in leaving the Netherlands, see our complete relocation guide.

Related Guides

• Complete Guide to Moving to the Netherlands in 2026 – your full relocation checklist including insurance timelines
• Best Bank Accounts for Expats in the Netherlands 2026 – you will need a bank account to pay your premiums
• 7 Best Apps to Learn Dutch in 2026 – useful for understanding healthcare correspondence
• Best Expat Insurance Netherlands 2026 – expat-specific insurance options beyond the standard basisverzekering

Final Thoughts

Dutch health insurance may seem complicated at first, but the system is logical once you understand its components. The basisverzekering provides a strong foundation of coverage that is the same regardless of which insurer you choose. Your main decisions are: which insurer’s premium and policy fit your situation, whether you need supplementary coverage, and whether to adjust your eigen risico.

For expats just arriving, the most important steps are:

1. Get temporary coverage through SafetyWing for the period before you move (a Dutch policy taken out within four months of arrival is backdated to the day you arrived)
2. Compare policies once you have your BSN
3. Sign up within your first few weeks, well before the 4-month deadline
4. Register with a GP immediately after your insurance is active
5. Apply for zorgtoeslag if your income qualifies

Once you are set up, the basic package covers the main care, such as the GP, hospital, medicines and mental healthcare, with the eigen risico and any personal contributions on top. Take the time to choose your policy carefully at the start.

Get SafetyWing travel-medical cover for your move