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Entitlement to healthcare


Healthcare in your country of residence

Your family members are entitled to medical care according to the laws in your country of residence. You can ask the health insurance fund where you register, which treatments and medicines are covered. Costs incurred by your family members in your country of residence can only be claimed from the health insurance fund in their country of residence. You cannot claim those costs from us.

If you are incurring healthcare costs for yourself in your country of residence, you can claim them from your health insurance fund in the country of residence. You can also claim those costs from your Dutch health insurance company. Your Dutch health insurance also covers costs abroad. More information about this you'll find in the terms of your healthcare policy.

More information?

Read more on I work in the Netherlands and live abroad

Healthcare in other countries

Your family members live in a country of the EU, of the EEA, in the United Kingdom or in Switzerland

Your family members are entitled to medically necessary care in other EU/EEA countries, Switzerland and the United Kingdom. For example, when they are there on vacation. They do need an EHIC (European health insurance card) for this. They can apply for an EHIC online. The EHIC is not valid in their country of residence. There they can simply use the local health insurance card. Are they going on holiday to countries outside the EU/EEA, Switzerland or the United Kingdom? Then take out extra insurance or travel insurance.

Planned medical treatment in another country

Does your family member travel to another country specifically for medical treatment? Then read the information on the page I want to go to abroad for medical treatment.

Your family members live in another treaty country

Do your family members not live in an EU/EEA country, Switzerland or the United Kingdom? Then they are not entitled to an EHIC. And therefore also not entitled to the reimbursement of necessary medical care or medical treatment in other countries. To cover medical costs when staying in other countries, you should take out additional insurance or travel insurance.

Tip

For yourself, apply for an EHIC at your Dutch health insurer. You can also ask them if you need permission for treatment abroad.

Healthcare in the Netherlands

Do your family members live in an EU/EEA country, Switzerland or the United Kingdom? They are then entitled to medical care in the Netherlands. This is healthcare that is included in the Dutch basic health insurance package. They can show their European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) to the doctor or hospital. Do they not have an EHIC yet? If so, they can apply for an EHIC online.

Please note

Do your family members live in North Macedonia? They may be entitled to medical care in the Netherlands, but but not to an EHIC. Do your family members in the Netherlands need medical care? Contact Zilveren Kruis, Groep Buitenlands Recht. Telephone number: + 31 33 445 6870.

More information

Read more on I want to go to the Netherlands for medical treatment

Or visit the website of Zilveren Kruis to see which healthcare is refunded and which steps you need to take (only in Dutch).