What is a healthcare contribution?

Why do I pay a healthcare contribution?

The Netherlands has agreed with a number of other countries (the treaty countries) on the social security of migrant residents, such as healthcare costs. This is laid down in regulations and a number of treaties.

How much healthcare contribution do I pay?

Do you pay a healthcare contribution for yourself? Then this consists of:

• a fixed (nominal) contribution for the Zorgverzekeringswet (Zvw - Healthcare insurance Act)
• an income-dependent contribution for the Zvw
• an income-dependent contribution to the Wet langdurige zorg (Wlz - Long-term Care Act)

Family members

Do you pay a healthcare contribution for your family member to us? Then this (per family member) consists of:

• a fixed (nominal) contribution for the Zvw

Country of residence factor

We multiply the healthcare contribution by a country of residence factor. In that way your healthcare contribution is proportionate to the size and cost of the healthcare package in your country of residence. The Ministry determines each year the nominal Zvw contribution, the rates of income-dependent contributions and the country of residence factor. You can check the yearly numbers and percentages at What is a country of residence factor?

How much do you pay?

Once you are registered you will receive a letter. It will tell you from what date you are treaty-entitled. It also states when we will be starting to deduct the healthcare contribution from your income. Because the healthcare contribution is (in part) income dependent we can not determine an exact amount up front. However you can use the calculation module to get a general idea. After the end of each year, you will receive an annual statement.

Calculation module

Do you want to know how much healthcare contribution you have to pay? Please use the calculation module for healthcare contribution (Rekenmodule verdragsbijdrage - only in Dutch).

In which situations do I pay a healthcare contribution?

You pay a treaty contribution if you are a treaty-entitled person. This is the case in the following situations:

• You receive a statutory pension or benefit from the Netherlands and;
• You live or are going to live in a treaty country and;
• You do not work anymore and also do not own a business in the Netherlands.

How do I pay the healthcare contribution?

One of your Dutch pension or benefit institutions will deduct the monthly flat-rate contribution for you and your co-insured family members aged 18 and over.

Furthermore, all your pension funds or benefit institutions deduct the income-dependent contributions from your pension or benefit.

Do I get an summary of what I have paid?

We send an annual statement after the end of each calendar year. It states whether you have paid too much, too little or exactly the right amount. Usually you will receive the annual statement in the second half of the following year (before 30 September).