Healthcare in the Netherlands
The Dutch healthcare model is one of the few in the world that has begun to blur the distinction between private and public healthcare. The government funds all long-term health treatment through taxation, while the private companies grant cover for all short-term treatment.
What makes the system unique is that the Dutch medical schemes are compelled to offer a certain set of basic services without exclusions, for a fee of around €100 per month. Membership with a scheme is compulsory for anyone living in the Netherlands for more than a year, and the medical schemes may not disqualify anyone on the basis of risk, or even adjust premiums because of it. For those who cannot afford this fee, the Dutch government will provide a subsidy. The private schemes are funded at about 50 percent by employers, 45 percent by the insured, and 5 percent as a risk equalisation from the government. The areas which fall between the government funded long-term treatment, and the legally obligatory basic services which the medical schemes offer, are things like dentists. The medical schemes are allowed to charge what they wish for covering these services, and are allowed to exclude those whom they wish. However, in a highly competitive market, these prices are unlikely to be too high.
Medical insurance is required for anyone who wishes to travel to the Netherlands. For non-EU citizens, travel insurance is usually sufficient. For an EU citizen, the European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) will provide the necessary cover. Those who seek treatment in the Netherlands but have insurance based outside of the country will need to keep all receipts, invoices, and scripts for their insurance company back home.
These items are covered in a basic package: medical care, including services by GP’s, hospitals, medical specialists and obstetricians, any hospital stay, partial dental care after age 18 and full dental care below that age, required medical appliances, most medicines, prenatal care and maternity programs, and ambulance services. The default number for an emergency service is 112.
