Health care in The Netherlands????????

Question

I was just wondering what the health care was like in the Netherlands. I used to live there so my teacher asked me about it but I cant remember much....so anyone know how it went exactly?

Answer 1

They made it illegal not to have an health insurance a couple of years ago which sucks imo, cos they also made it a lot more expensive at the same time. The cheapest insurance I could find was still 90 euros a month (and I think that was AFTER health assistance). The health care itself is awesome though. Everything you're insured for is free.

Answer 2

Health Care is simple. Health insurance comes in various shapes and sizes, based on how much you can afford each month.

You have many different companies to choose from, who will offer their basic package, which can be 'upgraded' to include several different areas, based on your needs.

Me, for example, have a basic package (sickness, hospitalization, medication, things out of my hands) and have, for lack of a better word, 'expansion packs' for my glasses and contacts, psychotherapy (in case I go nuts) and extensive dental expenses (in case all my teeth get knocked out by someone).

My 4 year old son is on my insurance, so I pay a standard amount every month and don't have to worry about anything.

Normally you don't even see the paperwork. Your local hospital knows your records, so send their bill to your insurance company automatically.

Sometimes (like in case of my glasses and contacts) they only pay up to a certain amount, the rest you have to pay for yourself, but I've hardly ever had to have to pay for anything myself.

Well, in a sense I do pay for it.

Oh by the way: basic health care is a right. If you can not afford it, there are several organizations that will provide you with insurance. No one has to go uninsured in The Netherlands.

Answer 3

Years ago you had a special insurance for people who didn't have so much money, they didn't have to pay a lot. You couldn't choose between the different insurance companies, every part of the Netherlands had it's own insurance company.  You could pay more to get an better insurance with that company. But if you earned more you had to insure yourself.

The last few years the health care changed a lot. At this moment everyone has to have a basic insurance. They make no differences between 'ridge and poor' anymore. But the government gives people who don't earn so much or who are on welfare an amount of money every month to compensate the high prices.

The government decides every year what is insured in the basic insurance. Besides that you can choose to have a better insurance by paying more. There are a lot of different insurance companies were you can choose from. But the basic insurance is the same because the government decides what's in it. But there can be a different in the price you pay for it.

Also the first 150 euro you have to pay yourselves. So if you go to the hospital a specialist or you need medications you have to pay the first 150 euro. They make an exception for a doctor and the dentist. For them you don't have to pay otherwise they are afraid that people wait to long to see a doctor.

And there are some special laws. For example; If you need to go to a physiotherapist the first 8 times is payed out of the basic insurance,after 8 times you have to pay. (or if you payed for an extra insurance it will be payed out of that. But that is depending of your insurance company)  But there is an exception chronicle deceases. If you need to go to a physiotherapist for a cdeceasel desease. The first 8 times you have yourself (or it will be payed out of your extra insurance if you have one), after that the basic insurance will pay the rest. But only if your decease is on a chronical list which the government made.

So it's not so simple as it used to be.