Health insurance in the Netherlands (zorgverzekering)

Everyone residing in the Netherlands, and everyone working there and paying wage tax, must take out basic health insurance within four months of registering with the municipality or starting work.

• You need a BSN to register.
• If you are late you must pay the premiums retroactively from the start of the obligation and a fine may be imposed, and if you do not insure, the health care authority (CAK) may register you with a company with an administrative fine.
• Someone who stays less than four months without work needs travel or health insurance from their home country.
• Foreign students may need insurance depending on their status, so check with your university.
• Children up to 18 are covered free with the parents' contribution.

The basic package covers visits to the general practitioner (huisarts), hospital, approved medicines, childbirth and mental health care under conditions, ambulance, and physiotherapy after the stated sessions.

• It usually does not include dental care for adults, lenses or all alternative treatments.
• So many people buy supplementary insurance (aanvullende verzekering) for dental care, physiotherapy and more.
• Companies are not obliged to accept you for the supplementary cover, and may require a medical check.
• Read what the package covers before buying, since you may not need it all.
• And look for cover that suits your needs, such as dental care if you have children.

Monthly premiums vary slightly between companies, and have been around one hundred and forty to one hundred and fifty euros a month for an adult in recent years, a figure that changes annually.

• In addition you pay a compulsory annual deductible (eigen risico) of about three hundred and eighty-five euros, which you pay when receiving medical care or medicines, and does not include the visit to the general practitioner.
• You can choose a higher voluntary deductible to lower the premium, but this is risky.
• Read the invoice when it arrives and check its items, and review your company's site to see how much of the deductible you have paid.
• Medicines are often taken from the deductible.

If your income is low you may qualify for the health care allowance (zorgtoeslag) from the tax authority, a monthly amount that lowers the premium burden.

• Conditions include being insured, having income below a certain limit (set annually) and being a legal resident.
• It is requested through the tax authority's site with DigiD, and it may be paid to you in advance then adjusted at the end of the year according to your actual income.
• Report any change in your income or family at once to avoid paying back amounts later.
• Calculation tools exist on the official site.
• Students and new workers may be asked to prove their residence.

The best-known companies are Zilveren Kruis, CZ, VGZ, Menzis, ONVZ and others.

• Compare premiums and coverage through independent comparison sites, and look at the company's policy on paying invoices from care providers it has no contract with (naturapolis or restitutiepolis).
• You can switch company every year until 31 January, so that the cover starts on 1 February.
• If you cannot pay your premiums contact your company at once for a payment plan, and your case may move to a special system when debts accumulate (wanbetalersregeling).
• For complaints go first to the company, then to the financial services complaints institute (Klachteninstituut Financiële Dienstverlening) and then to court.

Within how many months must you take out basic insurance?