Q & A early retirement pension

What exactly changes?

As of 1 November 2026, new customers receiving an early retirement pension or bridging benefit will no longer be entitled to health insurance arranged via the CAK. This applies only if they are emigrating to (or already residing in) an EU/EEA country or Switzerland. This change stems from an amendment to Annex XI of European Regulation No 883/2004.

The final decision will be made in late September, and the change will take effect on 1 November 2026.

Which pensions and benefits does this concern?

In the EU/EEA and Switzerland, you are no longer entitled to health insurance via the CAK with:

• early retirement, flexible retirement, and elective retirement;
• bridging benefits (OBR);
• Early Retirement Scheme (RVU);
• military disability or survivor's pension;
• railway pension or railway survivor's pension;
• waiting-allowance benefits (WW+) for military personnel and civil servants.

However, in the EU/EEA and Switzerland, you are entitled to health insurance via the CAK with:

• AOW
• Anw (from the SVB)
• WAO
• WIA
• Wajong

Which countries are involved?

The right to health insurance via the CAK while receiving an early retirement pension or bridging benefit will no longer apply for EU/EEA countries and Switzerland.

In the following countries, you remain entitled to health insurance via the CAK if you receive an early retirement pension or bridging benefit:

• United Kingdom
• Bosnia and Herzegovina
• Cape Verde
• Northern Macedonia
• Morocco
• Montenegro
• Serbia
• Tunisia
• Turkey

So, how can I get health insurance if I take early retirement?

That depends on your situation.

• Do you have a partner with health insurance arranged through the CAK—for example, because your partner is already receiving an AOW pension? If so, you might be able to be insured alongside them. To find out, contact the health insurer in your country of residence; they will decide if this is possible and then notify the CAK. In some countries, this option is only available if you are married.
• Check whether you are covered by the social healthcare system in your country of residence.
• Alternatively, take out private health insurance.

What happens when I start receiving an AOW (or Anw) pension?

As soon as you start receiving an AOW or Anw benefit via the SVB, you will once again be covered by health insurance arranged through the CAK. Please register using our digital form.

I am already insured through you with early retirement/bridging benefit. What now?

Nothing changes for you. If you were insured through the CAK before 1 November 2026, that remains the case.

What happens if I move to another country?

If you already have health insurance arranged through the CAK based on early retirement and you move to a country within the EU/EEA, Switzerland, the United Kingdom, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Cape Verde, North Macedonia, Morocco, Montenegro, Serbia, Tunisia, or Turkey, you retain your right to health insurance through the CAK.

However, your healthcare contribution may change. This is because the country-of-residence factor in your new country of residence may differ.

If you move to a different country—for example, the United States—you lose your right to health insurance through the CAK.

If I am not entitled to health insurance via the CAK, am I still entitled to healthcare in the Netherlands?

That depends on your health insurance.

Are you co-insured with your partner via the CAK? If so, you are also entitled to healthcare in the Netherlands.

Do you have social or private health insurance in your country of residence? If so, check with your insurer there whether you are also entitled to healthcare in the Netherlands.

I have already received confirmation from you, but I want to postpone my emigration date. Will this have any consequences?

Are you emigrating on or after 1 November 2026? If so, and you are on early retirement or bridging benefit, you will no longer be entitled to health insurance through the CAK.

I want to emigrate to Turkey on an early retirement pension after 1 November. Am I still eligible?

Yes, if you are on an early retirement pension or bridging benefit, you remain eligible for health insurance via the CAK if you move to: the United Kingdom, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Cape Verde, North Macedonia, Morocco, Montenegro, Serbia, Tunisia, or Turkey.