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How health insurance works

Sources checked on · Launch candidate pending human review · Translated from the Spanish original

Everyone who lives or works in the Netherlands must have Dutch basic health insurance. You take it out yourself with an insurer; the basic cover is the same everywhere, but the price varies.

Who this is for

Anyone who lives or works in the Netherlands.

What you need

  • Registration in the BRP (or the RNI).
  • A BSN.
  • A bank account.
  • Without a permanent address you can use an administrative address, a payslip or a statement from the SVB.

Steps

  1. Take out insurance within four months of starting to live or work there. You are covered from the day you start working.
  2. Compare policies: the same basic package everywhere, different prices. Look at the monthly premium and what each supplementary policy covers.
  3. Bear in mind the excess (eigen risico): €385 in 2026, according to WorkinNL. You only pay it if you use care it applies to, such as hospital treatment. Children under 18 do not pay it.
  4. If your income is low, check whether you can get healthcare benefit (zorgtoeslag). You apply through “Mijn toeslagen” on the Dienst Toeslagen website.
  5. You can switch insurer at the end of each year: the window runs from 12 November to 31 December.

Relevant exceptions

  • Children under 18 must be insured but pay no premium for the basic package and no excess (Government of the Netherlands, WorkinNL).
  • If you work or live in several countries at the same time, different rules may apply: check the official source.

Common mistakes

  • Waiting until the last moment: if you are not insured in time you can be fined and will have to pay for your care yourself.
  • Accepting the agency's insurance without reading it. It is an option, not an obligation.
  • Buying supplementary insurance you do not need: it is not compulsory.

The excess and deadlines change every year. Checked on 14 October 2026 with the sources cited.

Official sources

Deadlines, amounts and requirements change. Always check them with the source.

Frequently asked questions

Does my European Health Insurance Card cover me?

It is meant for temporary stays. If you live or work there, you are required to have Dutch insurance.

Can the agency deduct the insurance from my pay?

Only certain deductions are allowed from the minimum wage, such as health insurance or housing, and only with your prior consent.

How much does it cost per month?

It depends on the insurer and the options. We do not publish prices: compare them when you sign up.

Related

How to get your BSN

What the BSN is, where to get it (municipality or RNI desk), what to bring and the official deadlines when you arrive in the Netherlands.

How to open a bank account

Opening a bank account in the Netherlands: your right to a basic account in the EU, what banks usually ask for and why you need it for health insurance.

Taxes: the basics to get started

What you should know about payroll deductions, the annual tax return and public allowances in the Netherlands.

Does your case not fit? Read about personal guidance. This is general information, not legal, employment or tax advice.