Health Insurance Comparison Netherlands 2026

Health Insurance Comparison Netherlands 2026 — Best Zorgverzekering for Expats

Finding the right Dutch health insurance as an expat can feel overwhelming. There are over 20 health insurers in the Netherlands, each offering multiple packages with different deductibles, supplementary options, and English-language support. Our free wizard helps you cut through the noise in under 2 minutes.

How Dutch Health Insurance Works

The Netherlands operates a regulated health insurance system where every resident must take out basiszorgverzekering (basic health insurance). This is not a public system — you buy a private policy, but the government sets the minimum coverage every insurer must provide. All basic policies cover:

• GP visits (huisarts) — free of charge, not subject to the deductible
• Hospital care and specialist treatment
• Prescription medicines (formulary-based)
• Mental health care (basic GGZ)
• Maternity care
• Emergency ambulance and transport

On top of the basic policy, you can add aanvullende verzekering (supplementary insurance) for things like dental care, physiotherapy beyond the covered sessions, glasses, and alternative medicine. These add-ons vary widely in price and scope between insurers.

Understanding the Eigen Risico (Deductible)

Every adult with Dutch health insurance has a mandatory own-risk amount called the eigen risico. In 2026 the minimum is €385 per year. This means you pay the first €385 of most healthcare costs yourself each calendar year. GP visits do not count toward this deductible.

You can voluntarily increase your deductible up to €885 per year in exchange for a lower monthly premium. The savings range from roughly €100 to €330 per year depending on how much you raise it.

When Must Expats Sign Up?

The registration deadline is strict: you must take out Dutch health insurance within 4 months of arrival in the Netherlands, and the policy is then backdated to the day you arrived. Take it out later and there is no backdating; if you stay uninsured, the CAK sends a letter, can fine you and, after two fines, registers you with an insurer.

Zorgtoeslag — Government Healthcare Allowance

If your income is below a certain threshold, you may qualify for zorgtoeslag — a monthly contribution from the Dutch government towards your health insurance premium. In 2026 you may be eligible if your toetsingsinkomen is:

• At most €40,857 as a single person
• At most €51,142 with a toeslagpartner (combined income)

The allowance is at most €129 per month for a single person and €246 together with a toeslagpartner (Belastingdienst, 2026), significantly reducing your net premium. Apply through Mijn Toeslagen on the Belastingdienst website (toeslagen.nl). You can apply retroactively up to the start of the calendar year.

Tips for Expats Choosing Health Insurance in the Netherlands

1. Check English-language support

Not all Dutch insurers cater to English speakers. ONVZ and Zilveren Kruis offer English websites and documentation. CZ has partial English support. If navigating Dutch bureaucracy already stresses you out, prioritise an English-friendly insurer.

2. Naturapolis vs. combinatiepolis

A naturapolis (in-kind) policy means your insurer has contracts with specific care providers — treatment outside the network may only be partially covered. A budget policy has fewer contracted providers or lower reimbursements. A combinatiepolis reimburses some care types in full at any provider and applies natura rules to others; it typically costs more. The restitutiepolis no longer exists: insurers stopped selling it in 2025 (NZa).

3. Consider dental from day one

Basic Dutch health insurance does not cover dental care for adults (only for children under 18). If you want dental coverage, you must add it via a supplementary package. Waiting lists for dentists can be long in major cities, so it is smart to arrange this when you first register.

4. Switching is only once a year

Insurers publish their new premiums before 12 November each year. If you take out a new policy by 31 December, your new insurer cancels the old one for you; if you cancel yourself by 31 December, you have until 1 February to take out the new policy, with cover from 1 January. Mid-year switching is only possible in specific situations, so choose carefully.

5. Compare before you sign

The basic package is the same at every insurer. Compare premium, policy type (natura, budget or combinatie), voluntary eigen risico and the supplementary packages you actually need.

For more detailed guidance, read our complete guides: Health Insurance Netherlands 2026 and Best Health Insurance for Expats in the Netherlands 2026.