Insurer DSW Announced the First Health Insurance Premium for 2026 on Tuesday: It has not inceased for the first time in years. Many nu.nl readers are now Considing Switching Health Insurers. They are miracle: What should you pay attention to?
Around the Turn of the Year, 1.2 Million Dutch People Switched Health Insurance. When is it wise to switch?
“If you ask me, The Biggest Mistake is that people don’t make an active choice,” Says Tobias Klein, Health Economist at Tilburg University. “Many people find it difficult to think about it and are afraid of making the wrong choice. As a result, they don’t make a choice at all.”
But there can be large premium differentences. That makes it a shame to stay with the same insurer.
“You might think: My Premium Hasn’t Increased, So I’ll Stay Where I Am,” Says Babs van der Staak from the Consumers “Association. But something may have changed in the conditions of your additional insurance. For Example, you may only get nine physiotherapy treatments reimbursed Instead or Twelve.
Do not take out insurance as a family, but separate
Taking Out Basic Health Insurance is Compulsory in The Netherlands. Whether you switch or not, you have to take one out anyway. Then it is quite to choose the most favorable option.
The Basic Package is The Same Everywhere, The Government Has Legally Determined That. But the price, service and packages for additional care DIFFER per insurer. When compiring, it is wise to pay Attention to a Few Things, Says Bas Knopperts from Comparison Site Independer.
For Example, he sees many families or partners hike out a policy as a whole, because that is Easier and Faster. “But there is no insurer that gives a discount for having one insurance together,” Says Knopperts. So it does not offer financial benefits, but it can cause unnecessary costs.
“Suppose you need more physiotherapy appointments and your partner needs highher dental coverage. If you then take out a joint policy, you will both have a highher premium for dental costs and a highher premium for physiotherapy. THEN you can take take tops.
Take a good look at your additional insurance
The same applies if you have children. You can co-insure your child for free on the policy, but orthodontics is included in the additional insurance. “Then you as parents don’t both to take out a package with orthodontics. It is sufficient if one of the parents does that and the other insures themelves separate,” Says Knopperts. If you take something out as a family, you will soon pay too much.
Speaking of Additional Insurance: That is not always useful. “Look carefully to see if you need it all,” Says small. “That can be very Exensive. Actually, A Lot is already included in The Basic Package.”
Moreover, many people tend to take out additional insurance for the dentist, knopperts sees. “If you go to the dentist once or twice a year and you never have anything, then if you convert that, it is Sometimes Better to Pay the Bill Yourself.” The same applies to the purchase of glasses or lenses.
Take a critical look at your deductible
If you expect to incur few costs, it may pay to voluntarily increase your deductible – normally 385 euros. This is Possible with Many Insurers, but not with dsw, for example. You Will Receive A Discount On Your Monthly Premium for Increasing Your Deductible. That can save hundreds of euros annually. “That is beneficial if you are very healthy or do not expect anything to happen,” Explains small.
Suppose Your Deductible is 885 euros, The Highest You Can Chose. That can ensure that you pay 250 euros less premium per year. Klein: “If things go well, you have saved 250 euros. If things go wrong, you have to pay 885 euros, but you actual have to deduct that 250 euro Discount from that. So if you have the full -cone” 6355. “
You must have Those Few Hungred Euros in extra deductible available, Warns Klein. “If you are tight on money, it feels tempting to increase your deductible. But as special then you better do it,” Says Knopperts. Because you break your leg, you unexpectedly have to pay 885 euros. Many people who are tight on money cannot just cough that up.
Check the contracts with healthcare providers
Most Dutch People Have Health Insurance in which only care at providers with a contract is fully reimbursed. If you go to a healthcare provider who does not have a contract with your insurer, they may reimburs less and you pay part of the treatment yourself. So check Whether your insurance has a contract with the specific healthcare providers you want to visit.
If your health insurer has a contract with many healthcare providers, that can caus a highher premium, knopperts explains. “But that Doesn’t Always Make a More Expective Insurance A Bad Choice. Look at What is Important To You.”
From November 12, All Health Insurance Premiums Will Be Known. Most People Will then Orient Themselves and Make a Choice in the Second Half of December, Van der Staak from the Consumers’ Association Sees. Switching is Possible Until December 31.