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Claiming EHIC related healthcare costs

Last modified: 9 May 2023

If you fall ill on holiday, you may need care or medication. It happens that healthcare providers abroad (e.g. a doctor or pharmacy) do not accept your EHIC from the CAK. You will then have to pay directly to the healthcare provider. You can claim those costs from us. You can also submit costs arising from planned medical treatment abroad to us.

You can submit medically necessary costs. But only if you:

  • are registered with the CAK;
  • incurred these costs in an EU/EEA country, Switzerland or the United Kingdom;
  • did not incur these costs in the Netherlands or your country of residence.

Tip

Costs incurred in your country of residence can be submitted to the health insurer in your country of residence. Costs incurred in the Netherlands can be submitted to the Zilveren Kruis.

How to submit your costs?

Use the form Declaration form medical costs abroad. You can download this form on the upper right side of this page. Fill in the form and send it with supporting documents (original bills, receipts, referral letters, prescriptions, treatment reports, etc) to CAK, Regeling Buitenland, Antwoordnummer 91041, 2509 VC Den Haag.

Rates for planned medical treatment

Are you claiming costs for planned medical treatment abroad? Then we always apply the Dutch rate.

Rates for unplanned medical expenses

Did you incur medical costs abroad that were not planned? For example, because you unexpectedly fell ill while on holiday? Then we can apply 2 rates:

  1. We first ask the country where you incurred the costs what amount they reimburse for the stated treatment/costs (foreign rate).
  2. We inquire about the Dutch rate.

Is the Dutch rate higher? Then we supplement the reimbursement to the Dutch rate if:

  • the foreign rate is less than 50% of the Dutch rate or;
  • the Dutch rate is € 150 higher (or more) than the foreign rate.

Please note: we never reimburse more than the actual costs incurred.

Choice

Requesting the foreign rate can take up to several months because we depend on foreign authorities. At your request, we can skip this step and only request the Dutch rate. You then tick the Yes box on the form.

The advantage: we can process your application faster.

The disadvantage: it is possible that the foreign reimbursement is higher than the Dutch rate. However, that chance is small.

Please note

For planned medical treatment you have no choice and we always apply the Dutch rate.

Examples

Example 1

The costs incurred are € 1000. According to the foreign rate, the reimbursement is € 200. The Dutch rate is € 600. The foreign rate is less than 50% of the Dutch rate. The reimbursement is therefore € 600.

Example 1
Amount on bill

Dutch rate

Foreign rate Foreign rate compared to Dutch rate Difference foreign rate compared to Dutch rate
€ 1000 € 600 € 200 33% € 400

Example 2

The costs incurred are € 1000. According to the foreign rate, the reimbursement is € 700. The Dutch rate is € 900. The foreign rate is more than 50% of the Dutch rate. But the Dutch rate is more than € 150 higher than the foreign rate. The reimbursement is therefore € 900.

Example 2
Amount on bill

Dutch rate

Foreign rate Foreign rate compared to Dutch rate Difference foreign rate compared to Dutch rate
€ 1000 € 900 € 700 78% € 200

Example 3

The costs incurred are € 1000. According to the foreign rate, the reimbursement is € 400. The Dutch rate is € 1200. The foreign rate is less than 50% of the Dutch rate. The reimbursement is € 1000 because we never reimburse more than the actual costs incurred.

Example 3
Amount on bill

Dutch rate

Foreign rate Foreign rate compared to Dutch rate Difference foreign rate compared to Dutch rate
€ 1000 €1200 € 400 33% € 800


Downloads

Declaration form for EHIC related costs (pdf, 944 kB)

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