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I want to go abroad for medical treatment


You live abroad and are registered with the CAK as a treaty-entitled person. And you want to go to another country for medical treatment. In that case, first consult with the health insurer in your country of residence. Then you know whether the treatment is reimbursed or that you have to pay the costs (partly) yourself.

Please note

Do you live in the Netherlands and are you insured in the Netherlands? Then you must ask your Dutch health insurance provider permission for medical treatment abroad.

What is your situation?

I want to be treated outside Europe

In a country outside the EU, Liechtenstein, Norway, Iceland, Switzerland and the United Kingdom you have to pay the cost of treatment yourself.

I want to be treated in Europe

Do you live in the EU, Liechtenstein, Norway, Iceland, Switzerland or the United Kingdom? And do you want to be treated in one of the above countries? Then you may be eligible for reimbursement of the costs. To do so, follow the steps below.

Please note

You do not need permission for treatment in the Netherlands. You can use the European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) that you received from us. Don't have an EHIC yet? Then request one online.

What steps should I take?

Contact your health insurer first

Please contact the health insurer in your country of residence. They will forward your request for the medical treatment to us. We will check if your treatment meets certain conditions. We will let you know by letter which costs will be reimbursed and which not.

Are you going abroad for medical treatment without permission? Then different rules apply. Read the Without permission page carefully first.

Please note

In some countries, your health insurer decides on your request. They will notify you directly. This is the case if you live in the Greek part of Cyprus, or in Ireland, Spain, Portugal, Finland, Sweden, the United Kingdom or Norway.

Report to the doctor or hospital abroad

Have we reviewed your treatment in advance and are you eligible for reimbursement of the costs? Then you will receive a document S2 from us. Show this document to the doctor or hospital abroad. They will then know that they can settle the costs of your treatment with the local health insurer.

What treatment will I be reimbursed?

How do we assess a treatment?

You will be reimbursed (partially) for a treatment if the following 3 conditions are met:

  1. The treatment is in the legal healthcare package of your country of residence.
  2. You can't get the treatment in your country of residence on time.
  3. The treatment is in the legal healthcare package of the country to which you are going for treatment.

We pay the costs of your treatment to the country where you receive the treatment. Therefore, the treatment must be part of the legal care package in the country you are going to.

Which costs can I submit?

If you have notified your health insurer in advance, you will know what is and what is not reimbursed. It is possible that you still have to pay some costs yourself to the practitioner abroad. You can submit these costs to us. This is also possible if you have not discussed the treatment beforehand.

Use the Declaration form Costs of medical care in Europe for this. Please enclose the following documents with the form:

  • original bills
  • receipts
  • referral letters
  • prescriptions
  • treatment reports

Rates

We will check whether you are entitled to reimbursement of your costs in accordance with the rules of the Dutch basic package (Dutch rate).

Switzerland and the United Kingdom

Are you going to Switzerland or the United Kingdom for medical treatment? And did you not request permission in advance? Unfortunately, you cannot claim costs afterwards.

Please note

  • Costs incurred in your country of residence must be submitted to your health insurer in your country of residence.
  • Costs incurred in the Netherlands must be submitted to the Zilveren Kruis, Foreign Law Group, PO Box 650, 7300AR Apeldoorn.