Information in English
Our website is not available in English. Below you will find the most important information about health insurance in the Netherlands and transporting medicines. Would you like more information in English? Contact us via nvhp@nvhp.nl.
Health insurance
Health insuranceEverybody is REQUIRED to have basic health insurance (even if you have still insurance in your homecountry). This requirement starts on the first day you register with the municipality or start working. You will need to contact a health insurer to inquire about options. The government has no role in this. You can access sites like www.zorgwijzer.nl (also available in English) to compare insurance packages.
– Are you employed in the Netherlands? If so, has your employer offered you a possibility for a group medical insurance? That usually makes it easier when it comes to finding an insurance company since they also often offer coverage at a discount.
– You have 4 months to find and sign a health insurance contract. The premium will be invoiced once the contract is agreed (retro active).
– If you don’t have health insurance on time, you may be fined.
– There are several providers of health insurance. It is up to you to make a choice for the best package that fits your needs.
Children
ChildrenChildren till 18 are insured free of charge if they are insured by their caregivers (parents, guardian, fosterparent).
If you are over 18, there is no free health care and there is a deductible of about 400 euros per year. That has to be paid no matter what. If you don’t have enough income you may receive a so called subsidy (zorgtoeslag) to help paying for the premium (not for the deductible).
Basic and supplemental insurance
Basic and supplemental insuranceThere is a difference between BASIC (basisverzekering) and SUPPLEMENTAL (aanvullende zorgverzekering). Be careful to check the contents of the coverages. There are big difference in what and to what extent is covered under supplemental insurance. Basic insurance is same for everybody. You can check which medicines are covered under basic insurance here https://www.medicijnkosten.nl. (website in dutch, but you can just enter the medicine name and check whether it says ” vergoed” which means covered. Sometimes you will have to pay an additional charge, but that is only for non-approved medicines.
– Even though insurers are prohibited from accepting people based on medical history or condition for the basic health care, they can for supplemental healthcare.
– Once the coverage is agreed, you may be able to receive products right away (but count on about a month due to logistics)
– We recommend you get in touch with the closest Haemophilia treatment center as soon as you have moved. Most academic hospitals have one and in Utrecht there is a specialized HTC called the Van Creveld clinic.
Transporting medicines
Transporting medicinesYou are allowed to bring medicines for own use provided you carry a letter from your doctor indicating that you are in need of these medicines. This needs to be signed and dated by a licensed doctor or better a haemophilia treatment center. The letter should list which medicines, how much and which peripheral items you bring (needles, alcoholswabs, etc.) see also the checklist.