The promise to significantly reduce the deductible from 2027 onwards has a negative impact on the most vulnerable groups. Due to the reduction, the premium for health insurance rises, almost evaporating the benefit. But it particularly affects the disabled, as the reduction is partly paid for with a compensation for this financially vulnerable group.
This is stated in an advice published on Monday by the Council of State (RvS). The government’s most important advisory body therefore proposes not to submit the bill to the House of Representatives.
The previous coalition of PVV, VVD, NSC and BBB had proposed to reduce the deductible from 385 to 165 euros per year from 2027.
At first glance a sympathetic proposal, because people who almost always have to pay the deductible (such as chronically ill people) benefit the most from this. It should also prevent people from not using healthcare because they fear they will have to pay (part of) the deductible.
Proposal has the opposite effect
But the RvS now concludes that the proposal, which comes from the PVV, has the opposite effect. The reduction of the deductible by 220 euros per year firstly causes an increase in the health insurance premium of 200 euros per year. “As a result, the financial benefit of those who pay the full deductible is less great,” the advisory body writes.
People with a low income who do not pay the full deductible will even be financially worse off due to a higher health insurance premium.
The proposal is partly paid for by abolishing the compensation for the disabled. That measure will take effect at the same time as the halving of the deductible. This compensation for people who cannot work (fully) was precisely intended as compensation for the deductible they routinely used. “The financial disadvantage of this for the group of disabled people is greater than the financial advantage of the proposed reduction of the deductible,” the RvS writes.
In addition, the bill offers no improvement for the longer term. From 2030, the deductible will be increased again every year. It is therefore not a structural solution for keeping healthcare financially accessible for everyone, the RvS states.
Finally, a lower deductible could lead to an increase in healthcare demand. This only increases the already existing pressure on healthcare.