Today, 18 September, the Dutch government presents its policy and budget for the year 2019. One important aspect is the expected increase of the healthcare insurance premium. You will likely face an increase of 10 euros per month on average.

The government expects the annual basic premium to be around 1432 euros for 2019. This is 124 euros more than this year. This will be given as a guideline for health insurance companies, which determine their rates themselves in the autumn. Next to the monthly premium you also contribute to the cost of Healthcare as a result of your mandatory excess (deductable) and personal contributions.

Why this increase

According to national government, the health insurance premium is increasing for five reasons: firstly, due to economic growth, wages and prices are rising in healthcare.

Furthermore, the premium was overestimated last year and therefore also the contribution by pensioners, entrepreneurs, and employers. This must be rectified by raising the healthcare premium for the coming year.

Thirdly, healthcare costs (without wages and prices) are also growing. This includes extra care provided to the aging population, new or better treatments and medical aids or more expensive medicines that have been added to the basic package.

In addition, since 2015 the financing of district nursing has gradually been transferred to health insurance. Before, the government had more responsibility in this service.

Finally, the premium rises a bit extra for everyone because next year there is no change in the deductible/excess (‘eigen risico’). The government coalition has agreed that the maximum compulsory deductible will be frozen during this cabinet period at € 385 per year.

It is likely that premiums will further increase in the coming years.

This will affect all people living in the Netherlands, so also internationals, as Dutch healthcare insurance is mandatory for most people living and working in the Netherlands.

How to lower your healthcare cost

From the end of September until November 12, health insurers will announce their health insurance premiums for the next year. You may then opt to switch to a policy with a lower premium. You can find the information and the premiums for 2019 on the website of your health insurance company. Or you can compare the Dutch insurers here.

The Dutch government also offers a healthcare benefit and tax deductible for those with low incomes or very high costs of healthcare.

On our H4i page on healthcare insurance, you can read more and in our next newsletters we will provide more information about insurance premiums for 2019 and the possibility to change your policy and insurance provider before year end.
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Het bericht Increase of Dutch health insurance premium for 2019 verscheen eerst op Healthcare for Internationals.

The online platform will be publicly accessible for everyone, also a source of reference when, for example, you are preparing your move to the Netherlands. It will provide a clear overview of all the different Dutch healthcare subjects.

Interactive

Apart from informing the non-Dutch audience, it also has the objective to engage internationals in the topic of ‘healthcare in the Netherlands’. This reciprocal effect attunes to the main goal of Healthcare for Internationals, which is “adjusting Dutch Healthcare to the needs of internationals“.

“The Healthcare for Internationals platform is an answer to the needs of internationals”

Internationals have an important voice. They assess whether the information is clear and provides an answer to the questions that they have. Internationals are invited to provide feedback, tell us what is missing or give suggestions. They can also participate in panels (offline and online) to support providers in adapting their services to the needs of the target group. These panels will also play an important role in the assessment of providers. The ‘hallmark H4i’ can only be acquired after assessment by internationals.

Why this platform?

“Internationals do not feel at home in Dutch healthcare”

Recent research (April 2018) by the International Community Advisory Panel, which is not affiliated with H4i, also shows that there is confusion among internationals about Dutch healthcare. Only 33.5% of them feel (reasonably) well informed about the Dutch health insurance system; more than 60% do not say or are not sufficiently informed about Dutch healthcare.

Further research among internationals (H4i-SGE-2018) shows that there is also a gap between the information that internationals say they need about healthcare and what is actually accessible to them. This concerns a broad spectrum of topics, such as how Dutch healthcare works, health insurance, healthcare providers and information about how to stay healthy.

The platform will provide dynamic information about the “We help you navigate Dutch healthcare” goal of the H4i network. These topics will be available:

• The Dutch healthcare system
• Health insurance
• Providers of healthcare
• Healthcare, health, and well being

It also will address subjects of interest like giving birth, antibiotics and other medicines, preventive health checks, how to stay fit, nutrition etc.

As an extension to the platform, content will be shared through (social media) feeds, blogs, links to own websites or those of third parties.

In addition, the platform connects internationals with each other, on the theme of health and well-being, and with providers that are active in it: “we help you connect …”.

Is it needed?

There are more than 850,000 internationals in the Netherlands, people with an international background. These are knowledge workers, labor migrants, self-employed, students or status holders, often with their families. They have an important influence on the economic and social development of the Netherlands.

Recent research (April 2018) by the International Community Advisory Panel, which is not affiliated with H4i, also shows that there is confusion among internationals about Dutch healthcare. Only 33.5% of them feel (reasonably) well informed about the Dutch health insurance system; more than 60% do not say or are not sufficiently informed about Dutch healthcare.

Further research among internationals (H4i-SGE-2018) shows that there is also a gap between the information that internationals say they need about healthcare and what is actually accessible to them. This concerns a broad spectrum of topics, such as how Dutch healthcare works, health insurance, healthcare providers and information about how to stay healthy.

The network Healthcare for internationals (H4i)

The healthcare providers behind Healthcare for internationals (H4i) believe that everyone in the Netherlands should be able to feel safe with their doctor.
In 2016, these care providers set up a non-profit network (cooperative association). This network Healthcare for internationals (H4i) ensures that people with an international background feel at home in Dutch care, by closing the gap between their expectations and the care offered: “Closing the gap”.

This network now has members and projects in 6 different regions.

Information about Dutch healthcare 

Healthcare providers, health insurers, non-profit or commercial organizations, expat centers and other authorities offer a lot of information, but this information is often incomplete, not up-to-date or sometimes ‘colored’.

More importantly, the information is often not or only partly available in English, or difficult to find. English-language information and advice about illness and health from foreign sources often differ from what Dutch health care professionals recommend.

Transparency

It must always be clear how the H4i platform relates to the provider of information and services. Is it a care provider with an H4i quality mark or one that is busy acquiring it? Is it a commercial provider, does H4i benefit from the relationship with the provider, and if so, how does that benefit the care for internationals?

The platform tries to inform internationals as broadly as possible about and connect with health, care and well being and is not an ‘advertising pillar’ for the members (healthcare providers) of H4i. Internationals must be free to choose a healthcare provider, regardless of whether or not it is a member of H4i.

We do offer advertising opportunities, but it will be stated they are sponsored posts, adds or advertorials.

Implementation

H4i will set up, facilitate, exploit and promote the platform. The content will for a large part be produced by or in cooperation with third parties, such as

• Members (healthcare providers) of the H4i network
• Partners and experts who already offer (mostly Dutch) content in the area of health, care and well being.
• Other service providers, both from the commercial and non-profit domain.
• Internationals themselves, their interest groups and communities, who have relevant knowledge or experience.

H4i ensures the moderation of the content, which must be informative, relevant to a broad audience, constructive and connect, ie focused on ‘closing the gap’.

The platform will initially be in English. It is expected that 50% of the target group can be reached.

Phasing

The platform will be launched  September 1, 2018 and will be expanded in several steps. From publishing information in the beginning towards more interactive and more responsive at a later stage.

Het bericht New H4i platform to be launched soon verscheen eerst op Healthcare for Internationals.