Cut out the coffee: Dutch health insurance may cost €10 extra per month

The major health insurer, DSW, plans to raise premiums by an extra €9.75 per month in 2023. They are just the first health insurance company to reveal their new premiums — but it doesn’t bode well for any of us. 

Customers of DSW will be paying an extra €117 for the same insurance they paid for the year before. However, this means that they could be setting a worrying trend for other Dutch health insurance providers to follow. 

With the cost of living constantly on the uprise, it seems like nothing is safe from inflation; and that includes health insurance premiums, reports RTL Nieuws

Cost of healthcare on the rise

The increased premium, now bullying a grand total of €1,650 out of your bank account a year, comes as a result of healthcare costs rising. 

two-elderly-women-sitting-talking
With nearly three million people in the Netherlands over the age of 60, it’s no surprise that health care costs are on the rise. Image: Pexels

READ MORE | Inflation in the Netherlands jumps to almost 12% percent: here’s what you’ll pay more for

With increasing wages for health care workers as well as an ageing population, health insurers need to find some way to cover these costs, and, ultimately, it’s trickling down to impact your own wallet. 🤷‍♀️

It’s not all bad news!

Though the cost of health insurance is rising, the health care allowance is also rising. A single person with a minimum income will receive €412 in health care allowance for 2023; more than €34 extra per month as compared to 2022. 

READ MORE | Going to a doctor in the Netherlands? Here’s the ultimate guide

The less you earn, the higher your healthcare benefit. The increased premium rates will largely affect households in a higher income bracket; so, if you’re a lone working professional, at least you can be assured you won’t lose out on those GP appointments! 😷

What do you think of the increased premium? Tell us your thoughts in a comment below! 

Feature Image:Unsplash
Heather Slevin
Heather Slevin
Heather is a Dublin native, addicted to catching the Luas, the Irish version of a tram, for one stop, and well used to the constant rain and shine. Seeking to swap one concrete city for another (with a few more canals and a friendlier attitude to cyclists) here she is with the Dutch Review! As a Creative Writing student, she can usually be found sweating over the complicated formatting of her latest poem or deep inside the pages of a book, and loves writing, writing, writing.

1 COMMENT

  1. What do I feel? Insurance in this country is a scam!!! It is mandatory and a lot of money and if something will happen you still have to pay own risico. You do not get any money back, even if any services are not used. GP doctors are very bad and they like to give you advice to take paracetamol. Generally healthcare in the Netherlands is very weak. If hospital in your area does not have contract with your insurer, you will still pay full price of your treatment. Insurance, however mandatory is a joke and every year they want more and more and more, for the same shitty service

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