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Netherlands Information · Joined: 21 Oct 2006 Posts: 20 Home Country: netherlands

HEALTHCARE IN NETHERLANDS

GENERAL

Healthcare in Holland is of excellent quality, but also very expensive. It is important to understand how the health sytem in the Netherlands works and make sure you have the entitlement to free care or the appropriate insurance so you have coverage.

Being insured for GP (General Practitioner) and hospital costs is very important throughout your stay in the Netherlands. Medical costs are very high. Fortunately, there is a good public healthcare system called Ziekenfonds. If you earn above €32,750, you do not qualify for public coverage and are required to get private health insurance (Particuliere Ziektekostenverzekering).

To get a residency permit it is required to have adequate health insurance. If you are insured via social security or welfare in your own country, you should ask whether there is a reciprocal health insurance agreement between your country and the Netherlands. If there is not, you will need to get private insurance.

EU Citizens

If you are a European Union citizen, you are automatically entitled to free basic health care in the Netherlands due to reciprocal agreements among EU countries. Since the 1st June 2004, European citizens who are travelling within the European Economic Area are given a European Health Insurance Card, which simplifies the procedure when receiving medical assistance during their stay in a Member State. The European Health Insurance Card replaces forms E111 and E111B, E110, E128 and E119.

Public Healthcare

Approximately 63 percent of the Dutch population is insured via the statutory health insurance fund Ziekenfonds. The insurance covers basic medical care, such as general practitioners and medical specialists, hospital care, medicines, physiotherapy and dental treatment for children. It is paid from automatic deductions from your salary after you start working in the Netherlands. A small fee of about €25 needs to be paid monthly to the insurance company of your choice. Dental costs and glasses are usually not covered in a standard insurance policy, these will add another €5 to €50 to your monthly bill, depending on the type of coverage you want.

You can choose any insurance company for the Ziekenfonds, as they are all bound by law to follow the same rules. You then give details of your insurance to your doctor and pharmacy. Bills will then be automatically sent to the insurance company. No more hassle for you. If there are charges that are not covered by your policy, they will be billed to you by your insurance company afterwards.

Private Healthcare

Everyone in the Netherlands who is not eligable for a public insurance (Ziekenfondsverzekering), must get private health insurance, Particuliere Ziektekostenverzekering. Within private insurance, there is a wide range of choice of different policies, with difference levels of coverage (and charges). Most insurance companies have 3 schemes: basic, plus and total. Basic will be the cheapest and give the least coverage, plus will include more things and total will be the most expensive and give the most complete coverage. Common variables within policies are limits on reimbursement, a choice of deductibles and limitations based on where care is provided. These all influence your monthly fee.

Usually with a particuliere ziektenkostenverzekering you pay all costs yourself. You then send bills to your insurance company and they reimburse you. When choosing a provider, take the time to carefully compare different offers as there might be hidden charges or non-refundable items hidden away in the small print.

DIRECTORY OF HOSPITALS & CLINICS

Academisch Ziekenhuis Vrije Universteit
De Boelelaan 1117,
1081 HV
Netherlands
Tel: + 31 20 444 4444

Academisch Medisch Centrum
Meibergdreef 9,
1405 AZ
Netherlands
Tel: + 31 20 566 9111

Sint Lucas Ziekenhuis
Jan Tooropstraat 164,
1061 AE
Netherlands
Tel: + 31 20 510 8911

Slotervaart Ziekenhuis
Louwesweg 6,
1066 EG
Netherlands
Tel: + 31 20 512 9333

Diaconessenhuis Leiden
Houtlaan 55
Leiden
2334 CK
Netherlands
Tel: + 31 71 517 8178

Leids Universitair Medisch Centrum
Albinusdreef 2,
2333 ZA
Netherlands
Tel: + 31 71 526 9111

Havenziekenhuis en Instituut Voor
Tropische Zietken
Haringvliet 2
Rotterdam
3011 TD
Netherlands
Tel: + 31 10 404 3300
Fax: + 31 10 412 1517

Erasmus Academisch Ziekenhuis
Dr Molen Waterplein 40,
3015 GD
Netherlands
Tel: + 31 10 463 9222

Ikazia Ziekenhuis
Montessoriweg 1,
3083 AN
Netherlands
Tel: + 31 10 297 5000

Medisch Centrum Rijnmond Zuid
St. Clara Ziekenhuis
Olympiaweg 350,
3078 HT
Netherlands
Tel: + 31 10 291 1911

Medisch Centrum Rijnmond Zuid
Zuider Ziekenhuis
Groene Hilledijk 315,
3075 EA
Netherlands
Tel: + 31 10 291 1911

Stichting Bronovo - Nebo
Gravenhage
The Hague
Netherlands
Tel: + 31 70 312 4141
Fax: + 31 70 324 8333

Ziekenhuis Gooi-Noord (Blaricum)
Rijksstraatweg 1,
1261 AN
Netherlands
Tel: + 31 35 539 1111

Ziekenhuis Hilversum
Riebeckweg 212,
1213 XZ
Netherlands
Tel: + 31 35 688 7777

Academisch Ziekenhuis Maastricht
P Debyeln 25,
6229 HX
Netherlands
Tel: + 31 43 387 6543

TravelClinicPdeBeer
Brouwersweg 100-B11
Maastricht
6216 EG
Netherlands
Tel: + 31 46 478 9544

TravelClinicPdeBeer
Hertogenbisch
Jeroen Bosch Ziekenhuis - Poli Tropengeneeskunde
Deuterseweg 2
Hertogenbisch
5200 ME's
Netherlands
Tel: + 31 46 478 9544

Vu Medisch Centrum
De Boelelaan 1117
Amsterdam
1081 HV
Netherlands
Tel: + 31 20 444 4444
Fax: + 31 20 444 4645

Westeinde Ziekenhuis
Postbus 432
The Hague
2501 CK
Netherlands
Tel: + 31 70 380 2591
Fax: + 31 70 380 5925

Leyenburg Ziekenhuis
Leyweg 275,
2545 CH
Netherlands
Tel: + 31 70 359 2000

Rode Kruis Ziekenhuis
Sportlaan 600,
2566 MJ
Netherlands
Tel: + 31 70 312 6200

Sint Antoniushove Ziekenhuis
Burgemeester Banninglaan 1,
2562 BA
Netherlands
Tel: + 31 70 357 4444

Ziekenhuis Amstelveen
Laan van de Helende Meesters 8
Amstelveen
1186 AH
Netherlands
Tel: + 31 20 347 4747
Fax: + 31 20 347 4900

Academisch Ziekenhuis Utrecht
Heidelberglaan 100,
3589 CX
Netherlands
Tel: + 31 30 250 9111

Diakonessenhuis Ziekenhuis
Bosboomstraat 1,
3582 KE
Netherlands
Tel: + 31 30 256 6566