What steps should I take?

Make sure you have a European Health Insurance Card (EHIC). You can request an EHIC online with us free of charge. You need to show your EHIC to the healthcare provider in the Netherlands. You do not have to pay for the cost of your treatment. The health care provider sends the bill to the Zilveren Kruis. This is the health insurer that regulates the care costs for treaty beneficiaries in the Netherlands.

Is your treatment subject to an own contribution? This you'll have to pay for yourself.

An overview of the most common treatments can be found on the website of Zilveren Kruis. You can also read here if you have to pay your own contribution.

Long-term care

Do you need intensive care and supervision all day long? Then you may be entitled to long-term care. For that care you need a so-called indicative decision. You can request this from the Care Assessment Centre (CIZ.nl, Dutch only). You can do that before you come to the Netherlands. You will receive a message from the CIZ within 6 weeks.

You are free to choose a healthcare provider. Zilveren Kruis reimburses your care on the basis of nationally fixed rates or market rates. Usually, it covers the cost of treatments. Do you want to know if your treatment costs are fully reimbursed? Please contact Zilveren Kruis via [email protected] or + 31 (0) 33 445 68 70.

Do you not yet know who is going to treat you (which doctor, which hospital or other health care provider)? You can choose a healthcare provider via KiesBeter (Zorginzicht.nl, Dutch only). Here you will find healthcare providers for which quality information is available.

Do you need a referral letter? Arrange a referral letter in Dutch or English in your country of residence. You'll ask your GP or your doctor there. Are you in the Netherlands yet? First visit a Dutch GP. This GP can give you a referral letter.

Take your EHIC with you on the first visit. Do you have a referral letter? Then you turn it in to your health care provider.