• Netherlands Health Insurance Information

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In 2005, healthcare in the Netherlands equated approximately 9.2 % of the country's GDP, or US$3560 per capita, with the government responsible for up to 65% of that amount. 

According to a breakdown provided by the WHO, total healthcare expenditure in the Netherlands was split between the government (62%) and private sector (38%) before the 2006 reform. 

Prior to the reform, health insurance is divided into public and private.  The public insurance scheme was funded by premiums deducted from the wages of residents who earned less than a certain threshold income.  For residents who earn more than the threshold income, private insurance was the only alternative.

Since the 2006 reform, a new dual-level system has taken over.  Long-term treatments for the elderly, the dying, the long-term mentally ill etc. are covered by a state run mandatory insurance, which is financed by taxpayers money. 

For all short-term (regular) medical assistance, residents will have to pay out of pocket for private compulsory insurance.  These insurance providers are obliged to offer a universal insurance package which covers the cost of all prescription medicines.

 These insurance products must come at a fixed price for the whole population, regardless of health status or age. 

The Netherlands has also legislated that no insures can deny any application for insurance coverage, and insurers are not allowed to impose additional preconditions (e.g., exclusions, deductibles, co-pays, or refuse to fund doctor-ordered treatments). 

Low income earners can get assistance from the government if payment of such insurance is beyond them.  Children under 18 are insured by the system free of charge to their families as government will fund the payment.

 In additions to compulsory insurance, the reform also introduced a risk equalization program through a risk equalization pool. 

This makes sure that compulsory insurance package is affordable to all of residents without subjecting the individual policyholders to go through risk assessment by insurance companies.

 All primary and curative care is 50% funded from salary taxes from employers to the national health regulator. 

The insured person contributes another 45% to the same fund, and with the government topping up the balance 5%. Average premium is at approximately US$150 each month, with variation of around 5% in the market.

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