Dutch Health Insurance Explained for Expats: Mandatory Coverage, Costs & Deductibles

Every person legally residing in the Netherlands must have Dutch health insurance (basisverzekering) within 4 months of registering at the gemeente. The government defines what care belongs in the basic package, and every insurer must accept you for basic insurance regardless of age or health. You are free to choose an insurer, but policies can still differ in monthly premium, contracted-care network, reimbursement rules, service and policy conditions. In 2026, the average premium is approximately €150–160 per month per adult. Children under 18 are insured for free under their parent's policy.

The eigen risico is the mandatory deductible you pay out-of-pocket before your insurer starts covering costs. In 2026 it is €385 per adult per year. GP visits and maternity care are exempt — you never pay eigen risico for seeing your huisarts. You can choose a voluntary higher excess (e.g. €500 or €885) in exchange for a lower monthly premium, which makes sense if you rarely need medical care. You cannot opt out of the €385 base excess.

If your income and assets are below the official limits, the Dutch government offers Zorgtoeslag (healthcare allowance) to help pay your monthly premium. In 2026, the maximum allowance is € 129 per month for a single person or € 246 per month with a toeslagpartner. The income limit is € 40.857 without a toeslagpartner and € 51.142 together with a toeslagpartner; the asset limit on 1 January 2026 is € 146.011 or € 184.633 with a toeslagpartner. You apply via Mijn Toeslagen on belastingdienst.nl once you have your BSN and DigiD. Note: the 30% ruling's tax-free portion is counted as income for toeslagen purposes.

The basic package does not cover dental care for adults, physiotherapy, or glasses. Supplementary packages (aanvullende verzekering) are optional add-ons that cover these gaps. Insurers offer tiered packages — from basic dental coverage (~€10–15/month) to comprehensive plans including physio, alternative medicine, and spectacles (~€30–50/month). Unlike the basic insurance, insurers may reject you for supplementary coverage based on your medical history, and coverage terms vary between providers. Compare packages carefully before committing.