In this guide
Dutch basic insurance, supplementary insurance and travel cover solve different problems; assuming one replaces another can leave a coverage gap.
If you want a broader overview of the Dutch health system itself, our complete Dutch health insurance guide for expats is a good starting point. This guide is about what gets covered and what does not.
The basispakket: what everyone gets
The government decides what is in the basispakket (basic package), not the individual insurers. Every insurer offers the same package. The differences are in premium, in which healthcare providers the insurer has contracts with, and in how much you get reimbursed for providers without a contract (Rijksoverheid). The average basic premium in 2026 is €157 a month (Rijksoverheid).
So when we compare, say, Zilveren Kruis and CZ in our Zilveren Kruis vs CZ comparison for expats, the basic package is the same. The differences lie elsewhere.
The table summarises the Rijksoverheid overview for 2026. “Eigen risico” means the first part of the costs is paid by you each year.
| Care | In basic package | Eigen risico |
|---|---|---|
| GP (huisarts) | Yes | No |
| Medical specialist, hospital stay, surgery, hospital emergency department | Yes | Yes |
| Ambulance transport | Yes | Yes |
| Most medicines | Yes (extra contribution if you choose a more expensive medicine) | Yes |
| Mental health care (basis-ggz and specialist ggz) | Yes | Yes |
| Midwife care | Yes | No |
| Kraamzorg (maternity care at home) | Yes, with a contribution per hour | No |
| District nursing (wijkverpleging) | Yes | No |
| Dentist, under 18 | Check-ups and treatment | No |
| Dentist, 18 and older | Only surgical dental care and X-rays | Yes |
| Physiotherapy, 18 and older | Limited: some conditions from the 1st treatment, chronic list from the 21st | Yes |
| Dietary advice | Up to 3 hours a year | Yes |
| Speech therapy (logopedie) | When it has a medical aim | Yes |
| Occupational therapy (ergotherapie) | Up to 10 hours a year | Yes |
| Aids (e.g. hearing aids, orthopaedic shoes) | Yes, with a contribution depending on the aid | Yes |
GP visits (huisarts)
A GP visit is covered, with no eigen risico (Rijksoverheid). The GP practice notifies your insurer that you are registered there (Thuisarts). Your GP is also the usual route to a specialist: in the Dutch system you generally go to your GP first.
You register with a specific GP practice, which accepts you based on its capacity. If you are looking for an English-speaking GP, see our guide to finding an English-speaking doctor in the Netherlands.
Hospital care and specialist treatment
The basic package covers specialist care, hospital stays and operations, and the eigen risico applies. Your first €385 of such care each calendar year comes out of your pocket. Your insurer pays the rest, in line with the policy terms.
Policy types matter here. With a naturapolis your insurer contracts selected providers. You can still go elsewhere, but the insurer may reimburse less, as set out in the policy. A combinatiepolis gives a right to care in some cases and a reimbursement in others (Rijksoverheid, polissen). Pure restitutiepolissen have not been sold since 2025 (NZa).
Medicines
Most medicines are in the basic package, and the eigen risico applies. If you choose a more expensive medicine, you pay an extra contribution yourself, and the legal contribution for medicines is at most EUR 250 in 2026 (Rijksoverheid). Most over-the-counter medicines are not covered, and neither are some prescription medicines (Thuisarts).
Mental healthcare (basis-ggz)
- Basis-ggz: care for mild to moderate problems, such as talks with a psychologist or online treatment (e-health).
- Specialist ggz: care for severe, complex conditions, plus the first 3 years of a stay in a GGZ institution.
The eigen risico applies to both. The GP treats mild problems, often with a practice nurse for mental health (POH-GGZ), and refers you to basic or specialist ggz when needed (Rijksoverheid). Waiting times differ per provider and region, so ask your GP and insurer about options. Our guide to mental health support for expats lists resources.
Maternity care
Midwife care and kraamzorg are in the basic package and the eigen risico does not apply. For kraamzorg at home you pay a statutory contribution of €5.70 per hour in 2026 (Rijksoverheid). The NIPT prenatal test is free, because the government pays for it (pns.nl).
Ambulance and emergency care
Ambulance transport and emergency care at the hospital are in the basic package, and the eigen risico applies to both. For urgent medical problems that are not life-threatening, call your GP, or the out-of-hours service outside office hours; GP care, including the out-of-hours service, has no eigen risico (Rijksoverheid). See our emergency numbers guide.
Physiotherapy
For adults, the basic package covers (limited) physiotherapy and exercise therapy from the 21st treatment for conditions on the chronic list. The first 20 treatments you usually pay yourself, and the eigen risico applies. For some conditions the basic package pays from the first treatment, sometimes up to a maximum: pelvic physiotherapy for urinary incontinence up to the 9th treatment, exercise therapy for hip and knee osteoarthritis up to the 12th treatment, exercise therapy for intermittent claudication up to the 37th treatment, exercise therapy for severe rheumatoid arthritis or axial spondyloarthritis, and exercise therapy for COPD without a maximum number (Rijksoverheid, Zorginstituut Nederland). For other complaints the basic package does not pay. For children under 18, 9 treatments plus up to 9 more are covered for most conditions, and conditions on the chronic list are covered from the first treatment, with no eigen risico (Zorginstituut Nederland, Rijksoverheid). See our physiotherapy guide for expats.
Check with your insurer whether your condition is on the chronic list. If you see a physiotherapist regularly, compare the physiotherapy sessions in aanvullende packages.
Aids and paramedical care
- Aids: hearing aids and orthopaedic shoes are examples of covered aids. Simple walking aids such as rollators are not covered. Contributions differ per aid (Rijksoverheid).
- Dietary advice: up to 3 treatment hours per calendar year.
- Speech therapy: the treatment must have a medical aim.
- Occupational therapy: up to 10 treatment hours per calendar year.
- Stop-smoking programme: 3 times a year, with no eigen risico.
The eigen risico: how it works
In 2026 the mandatory eigen risico is €385. You pay the first €385 of care from the basic package yourself, and then your insurer pays the costs (Rijksoverheid). You can ask your insurer to spread the payment over several instalments.
What does not count
No eigen risico applies to:
- GP care, including the out-of-hours GP service
- Midwife care and kraamzorg
- District nursing (wijkverpleging)
- Certain care for some chronic illnesses (type 2 diabetes, COPD and cardiovascular risk management, known as ketenzorg)
- Combined lifestyle intervention (GLI)
- Children under 18, for all care from the basic package
(Rijksoverheid.) The eigen risico applies to the other care in the table above.
Voluntary higher eigen risico
You can voluntarily raise the eigen risico by EUR 100, 200, 300, 400 or €500. Your insurer then gives a discount on the monthly premium, but you pay more when you use care from the basic package. With the maximum voluntary amount you can pay up to EUR 885 (EUR 500 plus the mandatory EUR 385), for example for a hospital treatment (Rijksoverheid). The discount differs per insurer, so compare it with the extra risk you take on. If you are pregnant, managing a chronic condition, or unsure what care you will need, the mandatory minimum is the safer choice.
What the basic package does not cover
Dental care for adults
From age 18 the basic package covers only surgical dental care and X-rays (with eigen risico). Check-ups, fillings, and similar treatment you mostly pay yourself (Rijksoverheid, a.s.r.). A separate tandartsverzekering can reimburse part of the costs. For children under 18, check-ups and treatment are covered with no eigen risico, but braces, crowns, bridges and implants for young people are not (Rijksoverheid).
Glasses and contact lenses
Ordinary glasses and contact lenses are not covered. Medically necessary contact lenses and special glasses often are (Rijksoverheid). Some aanvullende packages contribute to glasses or lenses, so check the policy terms.
Physiotherapy for most adults
As described above, the basic package only pays for physiotherapy for a short list of conditions and, from the 21st treatment, for conditions on the chronic list. For most other complaints, such as a sports injury, you pay yourself or rely on an aanvullende policy.
Other care
Care that is not in the Rijksoverheid list is not part of the basic package. That includes most over-the-counter medicines (Thuisarts). If you rely on complementary medicine, cosmetic treatment or adult orthodontics, check your aanvullende policy and the terms of your insurer before you start treatment.
Aanvullende verzekering: the supplementary insurance question
An aanvullende verzekering is optional insurance on top of the basisverzekering. It reimburses care that the basic package does not or does not fully cover, such as physiotherapy, contraception or part of dental costs. Unlike the basic package, each insurer sets its own terms and prices for it, so compare policy terms rather than names.
a.s.r. as an example
a.s.r. sells five aanvullende packages (ZorgBasis, ZorgBewust, ZorgGoed, ZorgBeter, ZorgBest) from EUR 4.95 a month. They cover 3, 6, 9, 12 or 18 physiotherapy treatments a year plus 3 extra online appointments through the Zorg voor jezelf app (in ZorgBeter and ZorgBest you pay a EUR 5 contribution from the 10th treatment), contraception at 100%, and replacement informal care of EUR 150 to EUR 1,200 a year (asr.nl, 8 October 2026). a.s.r. states that dental costs are not reimbursed from the aanvullende verzekering. For that it offers a separate tandartsverzekering in five levels (TandBewust, TandGoed, TandBeter, TandBest, TandPlus) with annual maximums of EUR 250, EUR 250, EUR 250, EUR 500 and EUR 750 for dentist costs from age 18 (asr.nl, 8 October 2026). So when you read “dental included up to X”, check whether that maximum sits in the package you are pricing or in a separate policy.
Check a.s.r. health insurance →
Is it worth it?
Whether you need an aanvullende package depends on what you use:
- Dentist: if you expect regular dental treatment, compare a tandartsverzekering with the dental costs you would otherwise pay yourself.
- Physiotherapy: if you see a physiotherapist regularly, physiotherapy sessions in a package may be useful.
- Glasses or lenses: compare the contribution with what you actually spend.
- Pregnancy: the pregnancy care itself is in the basic package; check what a package adds, for example for physiotherapy.
If you rarely use these, you may decide to skip a package. The decision is yours, and the right choice differs per person.
Our Health Insurance Wizard helps you narrow down the options:
Compare Dutch health insurance options with our Health Insurance Wizard →
For expats specifically
The 4-month rule
If you come to live or work in the Netherlands, you must take out Dutch health insurance as soon as possible and no later than 4 months after arrival, even if you have insurance in another country. A policy taken out within those 4 months has coverage from the day you arrived. If you take out insurance after 4 months, you are not insured retroactively: you pay premiums from the start date, but care you received before then is not reimbursed (Government.nl). If you stay uninsured, the CAK can fine you. The first fine is EUR 529.74 (hetcak.nl, 9 October 2026).
You need a BSN for registration with your municipality. Our BSN registration guide covers the process. For the period before your Dutch policy starts, travel medical insurance such as SafetyWing may cover unexpected medical costs:
Check SafetyWing for temporary coverage →
Mental health: waiting times
The coverage exists on paper, but waiting times differ per provider and region. If you need support, speak to your GP early. Ask your insurer which providers it has contracts with, and what you are reimbursed at a provider without a contract (see policy types above). Some aanvullende packages contribute to extra sessions, and an international policy alongside your Dutch insurance can be an option. Our mental health support guide lists resources.
Treatment abroad
What is covered abroad depends on your policy and on the country. Ask your insurer before you travel or plan treatment abroad, and ask for written confirmation. International insurers offer policies designed to sit alongside Dutch insurance; we compare options in our ONVZ vs Aetna International comparison and our SafetyWing vs Cigna comparison for expats.
Zorgtoeslag: you may be entitled to a contribution
If your income is below a threshold, the government pays part of your premium through zorgtoeslag. In 2026 the income limit is €40,857 a year for a single person and €51,142 together with a toeslagpartner, and the maximum is €129 a month without a partner (Dienst Toeslagen). You apply in Mijn toeslagen with DigiD. See our zorgtoeslag and huurtoeslag guide for expats.
If you are self-employed
Self-employed people (ZZP’ers) arrange their own basic insurance and pay the premium themselves. They also pay an income-dependent Zvw contribution on their profit through the tax assessment: 4.85% in 2026, on a profit up to EUR 79,409 (Belastingdienst).
Practical tips
Switching providers
You can switch your basic insurance once a year. In November your insurer sends your policy for the new year, and you may switch if you disagree with it. Insurers publish next year’s premiums before 12 November. You cancel by 31 December (a new insurer you join by then cancels the old policy for you), and you have until 1 February to take out a new policy, which is then insured retroactively from 1 January (Rijksoverheid).
Before you switch:
- Check whether your insurer has raised its premium.
- Compare premiums and policies of other insurers, including whether your preferred specialist is contracted (naturapolis).
- Decide whether your aanvullende package still fits your needs.
How to check coverage before treatment
Always check before, not after.
- Look in your policy conditions, which state exactly what your insurance reimburses and under what conditions (Rijksoverheid).
- Contact your insurer if the terms are unclear or you want to know exactly how much you get reimbursed.
- For official coverage decisions, see zorginstituutnederland.nl.
For expensive or unusual treatments, ask for written confirmation before you start.
Our tools
- The health insurance wizard asks about your situation and suggests a coverage approach.
- The insurance chooser tool helps you compare insurer and package combinations.
- The cost of living calculator lets you include insurance costs in your monthly budget.
A final word
The basic package covers GP care, hospital care and maternity care, and the eigen risico applies to most other care. Known surprises for newly arrived expats are the limited physiotherapy cover and the fact that adult dental care is mostly paid by you. Sort your basisverzekering before the 4-month deadline, and take the time to compare aanvullende packages with what you actually expect to use.
Last reviewed: 9 October 2026. Based on Rijksoverheid, Zorginstituut Nederland, Belastingdienst and Government.nl. Always check with your own insurer for policy-specific terms.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does Dutch health insurance cover dental care?
For children under 18, check-ups and treatment are covered with no eigen risico, but braces, crowns, bridges and implants for young people are not. From age 18 the basic package covers only surgical dental care and X-rays (the eigen risico applies), so you pay most dental costs yourself (Rijksoverheid). A separate tandartsverzekering can reimburse part of them.
Does Dutch health insurance cover GP visits?
Yes. A visit to your GP is covered and the eigen risico does not apply to GP care, including the out-of-hours GP service (Rijksoverheid). The GP practice notifies your insurer that you are registered there (Thuisarts).
What is the eigen risico in 2026?
The mandatory eigen risico is EUR 385 in 2026. You pay the first EUR 385 of care from the basic package yourself, and your insurer pays the rest. It does not apply to GP care, midwife care and kraamzorg, district nursing, certain chronic-care programmes, and for children under 18 (Rijksoverheid).
Is physiotherapy covered by Dutch health insurance?
For adults only in limited cases. For a short list of conditions, such as pelvic physiotherapy for urinary incontinence (up to the 9th treatment) and therapy for hip or knee osteoarthritis, the basic package pays from the first treatment. For conditions on the chronic list it pays from the 21st treatment, and you usually pay the first 20 treatments yourself. The eigen risico applies (Rijksoverheid, Zorginstituut Nederland). Children under 18 get 9 treatments plus up to 9 more covered for most conditions, and treatment from the first session for conditions on the chronic list, with no eigen risico (Zorginstituut Nederland, Rijksoverheid). Many aanvullende policies add physiotherapy treatments.
Is mental health care covered by Dutch health insurance?
Yes. The basic package covers basic and specialist mental health care (basis-ggz and specialistische ggz) and the first 3 years of a stay in a mental health institution. The eigen risico applies (Rijksoverheid). Your GP can treat mild problems and refer you to the GGZ if needed.
Can I raise my eigen risico to pay lower premiums?
Yes. You can voluntarily raise it by EUR 100, 200, 300, 400 or 500, and your insurer then gives a discount on the monthly premium. With the maximum voluntary amount you can pay up to EUR 885 (EUR 500 plus the mandatory EUR 385) for care from the basic package (Rijksoverheid). The size of the discount differs per insurer.
Does Dutch health insurance cover treatment in my home country?
That depends on your policy and on the country. Ask your insurer before you travel or plan treatment abroad, and ask for written confirmation of what is covered. A supplementary travel or international policy can fill gaps.