Health insurance in the Netherlands: compare prices and cover
If you live or work in the Netherlands, you must take out Dutch basic health insurance within four months. The cheapest basic policy in our comparison costs €142.40 a month in 2026 with the standard €385 deductible. Tick what you need on top, and we add up basic and add-on cover for you.
Monthly premium 2026 with a €385 deductible
- Premiums checked with the insurers
- 2027 premiums added in November
- Updated October 2026
In short
- Basic insurance is compulsory if you live or work in the Netherlands. Every insurer covers the same basic package, set by the government.
- Insure within four months of arrival and your cover starts on the day you arrived. Children under 18 are insured for free.
- In 2026 the compulsory deductible is €385. In 2027 it goes up to €400.
Compare Dutch health insurance
Choose the cover you want next to basic insurance. For each insurer we add the cheapest matching add-on and rank the policies by total monthly premium. Click a policy to go to the insurer’s website.
VinkVink Basisverzekering
Basic insurance onlyBest match for you
Nationale-Nederlanden Zorg Voordelig
Basic insurance only
Univé Zorg Select
Basic insurance only
UnitedConsumers Bewuste Keuze
Basic insurance only
VGZ Bewuzt Basis
Basic insurance onlyWe receive a fee from FBTO, a.s.r., Nationale-Nederlanden, Menzis and UnitedConsumers if you sign up through our link. That does not change the order.
How the ranking works and which policies are missing
Ranking. For each policy we take the cheapest add-on package, or the cheapest combination of modules, that covers what you tick, and rank by total monthly premium. Physio means at least 3 sessions a year, dental means cover of at least €250 a year.
Links. For the other policies we link to the insurer’s premium page. With a €885 deductible we show the premium after the discount for a voluntary deductible, as the insurer states it on its website.
Which policies. Eleven low-priced basic policies of 2026 with the add-on packages of the same insurer, checked on the insurers’ websites in October 2026. For a.s.r. we only compare basic insurance, because we have not checked its add-on premiums yet.
How does Dutch health insurance work?
The system has two layers. Basic insurance is compulsory and the same at every insurer. Add-on insurance is optional, and that is where policies really differ.
Basic insurance (basisverzekering)
Covers GP visits, hospital care, specialist care, most prescription medicines, maternity care and mental healthcare. The government decides what is in it, so the cover is identical everywhere. Insurers compete on price, service and on how much they pay if you go to a provider they have no contract with.
Add-on insurance (aanvullende verzekering)
Covers what basic insurance leaves out, such as the dentist for adults, physiotherapy and glasses. You do not have to take it, and the packages differ a lot per insurer.
What is the deductible (eigen risico)?
The deductible is the part of your healthcare costs you pay yourself each year before insurance takes over. In 2026 it is €385, and the government plans €400 for 2027. You can raise it voluntarily by up to €500 for a lower premium. GP visits, the out-of-hours GP service, midwifery and maternity care do not count towards it, and children under 18 have no deductible at all.
Which insurers offer information in English?
Your policy is a Dutch contract, but several insurers help you in English. This is what the insurers themselves say on their websites.
| Insurer | What they offer in English |
|---|---|
| a.s.r. | Healthcare advisers answer questions in English. Letters and documents stay in Dutch. |
| VGZ | English website, and the app is available in English. |
| Menzis | English website with a premium calculator. |
| CZ | English pages, although many links lead to Dutch pages. |
| ONVZ | English website. |
| Nationale-Nederlanden | English policy documents and an English application form for 2026. |
| OHRA | English policy documents. |
Checked on the insurers’ websites on 19 October 2026. We could not confirm English service for the other insurers.
New in the Netherlands?
Get a BSN first
You need a citizen service number (BSN) before an insurer can sign you up. You get one when you register with your municipality, or in the RNI if you stay four months or less.
Healthcare allowance
Earning under €40,857 a year as a single person? Then the government pays up to €129 a month towards your premium in 2026. You apply in Mijn toeslagen, logging in with DigiD.
International students
Here only to study? Then you usually don’t need Dutch basic insurance. A paid side job or a paid internship can change that. The SVB looks at your situation if you’re unsure.
What happens if you do not take out insurance?
The CAK, a government agency, sends you a letter and gives you three months to insure. If you still have no policy after that, you get a fine of €529.74, and a second one of the same amount three months later. After that the CAK takes out a policy for you and deducts the premium from your income where possible.
Insure within four months of arriving and you are covered from your arrival date. You then also pay premium back to that date. After four months you only pay from the day you sign up, but you have no cover for the months before.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need Dutch health insurance as an expat?
Yes, if you live or work in the Netherlands. If you work here for an employer abroad, your insurance from home may be enough. The SVB, which runs the Long-term Care Act (Wlz), can assess whether you are insured in the Netherlands.
Can I keep my health insurance from home?
Usually not once you live or work here, because Dutch basic insurance is compulsory. Exceptions exist for some posted workers and staff of EU institutions. If you are unsure, ask the SVB for an assessment before you decide.
When can I switch health insurer?
Once a year. Cancel your policy by 31 December and take out a new one by 1 February, and your new cover starts on 1 January. Insurers announce their 2027 premiums in November.
Sources
Premiums and add-on cover from the insurers’ own websites, checked in October 2026. Rules from Government.nl, the CAK and Rijksoverheid (in Dutch).