Health insurance is compulsory for everyone who lives or works in the Netherlands. Immigrants arriving in the Netherlands from outside the EU, EEA, or Switzerland must obtain Dutch health insurance within four months of obtaining their residence permit, regardless of their current insurance. 

EU, EEA or Swiss citizens working in the Netherlands must obtain Dutch health insurance within four months of registering with their city hall.

Unlike many other European systems, the Dutch government is responsible for the access and quality of the healthcare system in the Netherlands, but not for its management. 

The health insurance Netherlands system is a combination of private health plans with social conditions based on the principles of solidarity, efficiency, and value for the patient. Health care in the Netherlands is financed by taxes: compulsory health insurance fees and income tax.

If you are on an extended stay in the country, health insurance is mandatory and it is designed to cover the cost of medical care. As a general rule, all immigrants must have Dutch health insurance even if they are already insured for medical care in their home country.

Within four months of obtaining your residence permit or registration with the Dutch City Council for EU / EEA citizens, you are subject to Dutch social security legislation and therefore should receive the package of basic health insurance.

There are two main costs you must pay for your Dutch health insurance: monthly premium which is a fixed fee that is deducted from your bank account each month. Own risk amount is an annual amount you must pay out of your own pocket for some treatments and medications before your health insurance will cover the rest. 

Currently, the amount is up to a maximum of three hundred eighty-five Euros. If you do not have any medical expenses in a year, you do not pay any eigen risico.

If you do not receive basic Dutch health insurance within four months and the government finds that it is not covered, you will receive a letter from CAK asking you to do so within three months.  If you do not receive health insurance within this period, CAK will impose a penalty.

If you still do not take action after six months, you will receive a second penalty for the same amount. If you have not yet received health insurance within nine months of the first letter, CAK will register you with an insurer on your behalf and they will deduct the monthly premium from your salary.

If you are not sure whether you need to purchase health insurance in the Netherlands, you can contact Sociale Verzekeringsbank to check whether you need Dutch health insurance for your circumstances or not.

If you become ill and do not have any medical insurance for treatment in the Netherlands, you will have to pay the medical expenses yourself.