Frequently asked questions
The healthcare contribution can be compared to the health insurance premium. You pay this contribution if your family members are entitled to medical care in their country of residence at the expense of the Netherlands. Your country of residence will settle the costs of their medical care with the Netherlands. The CAK collects, on behalf of the Netherlands, the healthcare contribution, which is sometimes referred to as the Zvw-contribution or foreign contribution.
The costs of healthcare abroad are often lower than they are in the Netherlands. One country may have a more extensive statutory healthcare package than another. In some cases that means that healthcare is more expensive in that country, but generally the healthcare in your country of residence is cheaper. We refer to the ratio between the costs in the two countries as the country of residence factor.
We use the country of residence factor to adjust the healthcare contribution according to the size and costs of healthcare in your country of residence (country of residence package). The Minister for Health, Welfare and Sport determines the country of residence factor annually for the treaty countries. If healthcare in your country of residence becomes more expensive, the country of residence factor also increases. You then have to pay a higher healthcare contribution for your family members.
A country of residence package is a package of healthcare facilities and services your family members are entitled to in their country of residence. By healthcare services, we mean, for example, costs of the general practicioner, medicines and hospitalisations. Each country has a different country of residence package.
Healthcare services
The coverage of the country of residence package is the same as the statutory healthcare package in that country. In the Netherlands, for example, this is the basic health insurance. Your family members are therefore entitled to reimbursement of the same healthcare as other residents of that country. They also have the same duties: if your country of residence has an own risk or contribution, the same applies to them.
Has your relative passed away? We are sorry for your loss. We understand that there is a lot to deal with and that you might have questions. That is why we have made an overview with information for relatives. You can read here what you need to arrange, where you need to go and what you can expect from us. Do you prefer personal contact or do you have any additional questions? Please contact us at + 31 88 711 5551. Or send us an e-mail via the online contact form.