Working in the Netherlands and living abroad

If you work in the Netherlands, you have to take out health insurance with a Dutch health insurer. You can decide on a health insurer of your choice. All health insurers are obliged to accept you for basic insurance cover.

NB: Do you work in the Netherlands and also in your country of residence? In that case ask the Sociale Verzekerings Bank (SVB) in which country you need to take out insurance.

If your family members no longer live or work in the Netherlands, they can no longer have Dutch health insurance. In some cases they can be co-insured under your policy in their country of residence. That is only possible, however, if they live in a treaty country.

Read more about getting medical care in your country of residence

The Netherlands has various treaties with other countries. However, we only have agreements with the following countries relating to medical care in the event of emigration:

• EU countries
• EFTA countries
• treaty countries outside the EU/EFTA

We refer to these countries as ‘treaty countries’.

Read on for an overview of the treaty countries

Do your family members live in an EU/EEA country or Switzerland? If so, they are entitled to medical care in the Netherlands. This concerns care that forms part of the Dutch basic package. They can present their European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) to the doctor or hospital. Do they not yet have an EHIC? In that case they can apply for an EHIC online.

Read more about family treatment in the Netherlands

For family members aged 18 and above you pay a healthcare contribution to the CAK. This is a fixed contribution under the Healthcare Insurance Act (Zvw). This contribution is determined annually by the Minister for Health, Welfare and Sport.

The healthcare contribution is adjusted using the ‘country of residence factor’, as the costs of medical care differ from one country to another. What you ultimately pay therefore depends on the country you live in.

Read more on costs of medical care for family members

Do your family members live in a treaty country and are they registered with a health insurance fund there? If so, they can ask that fund about the treatments and medicines that can be refunded.

Your family members do not have Dutch health insurance. This means that any healthcare costs they incur in their country of residence can only be claimed from the health insurance fund in that country. You cannot claim those costs from us.

Read more about living in a treaty country yourself

Do your family members not live in an EU/EEA country or Switzerland? In that case they are not entitled to an EHIC. That means they cannot use an EHIC to receive medical care in the Netherlands. You will need to take out extra insurance or travel insurance to cover medical costs incurred during their stay in the Netherlands.

A healthcare benefit is a contribution towards the costs of your Dutch health insurance. Whether you receive a healthcare benefit depends on your and your partner’s income. You may also be able to receive a healthcare benefit for your partner if your partner is included under your policy and is registered with us.

Your co-insured children aged 18 and above can apply for a healthcare benefit independently. See the Tax and Customs Administration (Belastingdienst.nl) website for the conditions and more information.

We send you an invoice at the beginning of each year. If your family members are included under your policy in the course of a year, you will receive an invoice as soon as we have registered your family members.

The invoice will indicate the names of your family members and the healthcare contribution you have to pay for them. The annual amount is spread over the remaining months of the year. That means you pay the contribution to us in instalments.

Read more about paying the contribution for family members

If your family members no longer live or work in the Netherlands, they can no longer have Dutch health insurance. In some cases they can be insured under your policy in their country of residence. That is only possible, however, if they live in a treaty country.

Read more about medical care for your family members abroad

The European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) entitles your family members to necessary medical care in EU/EEA countries and Switzerland, if they are there on holiday for example. If your family members live in an EU/EEA country or Switzerland, they can apply to us for an EHIC online. They cannot use the EHIC in their country of residence.

Read more on medical care for family members in other EU countries

Yes, you can. If you have received an annual statement from us and have to make an additional payment, you can apply for an arrangement with us for the settlement of this sum.

You will receive an annual statement from us within 3 months of the end of a calendar year. That means you will receive it by 1 April at the latest. This annual statement will include a summary of the healthcare contribution you have paid and of the amounts still due from you.

• Have you overpaid? If so, you will receive a refund.
• Have you underpaid? In that case you will have to make an additional payment.

Visit Netherlandsworldwide.nl and see what you need to think about in addition to health insurance if you are going to live, work or travel abroad.

Do your family members not live in an EU/EEA country or Switzerland? In that case they are not entitled to a European Health Insurance Card (EHIC). To cover any medical costs incurred while you are staying in those countries, you need to take out extra insurance or travel insurance.

NB: You can obtain an EHIC yourself from your health insurer, as you have Dutch health insurance. With this EHIC you are entitled to medical care in other EU countries.