Cost

Health insurance is compulsory for everyone who lives or works in the Netherlands. You pay a fixed amount for this every month. This is your health insurance premium. 

Premium, excess and personal contribution 

Health insurance costs can be broken down into three elements: 

1. Premium 

You pay a premium to your health insurer every month. In 2026, the average monthly premium is €159 for basic insurance. 

2. Excess 

Besides premiums, you sometimes pay part of the costs of your healthcare yourself. This is called the excess. In 2026, the standard excess is €385 a year. You only pay the excess for specific healthcare not covered by basic insurance, for example if you need to go to hospital for specialist healthcare.  

3. Personal contribution 

In some cases, you always have to pay some of the costs of your healthcare. This is called a personal contribution. You pay a personal contribution for maternity care, hearing aids, dentures, glasses and medicines, for example. The amount you pay depends on the type of healthcare provided. 

Basic insurance 

Basic insurance pays for essential healthcare, such as:  

• GP 
• Hospital 
• Medicines 
• Some mental healthcare 

Supplementary insurance 

Supplementary insurance is insurance on top of your basic insurance. It is not compulsory. If you take out this insurance, certain types of healthcare not covered by your basic insurance will be reimbursed, for example the dentist, physiotherapy or glasses. You pay more for this insurance every month, so only take it out if you are sure it is right for your healthcare needs.  

Help with paying 

If you have a low income, you can claim healthcare benefit from Belastingdienst. This is money you get from the government to pay for part of your premium.