Yesterday (November 12), Dutch health insurance providers revealed their rates for 2027, with every one of them getting noticeably more expensive.
You’ve got time until December 31, 2026, to decide if your current provider still earns their keep, so it’s worth running through the major changes for 2027.
How much more will you pay in 2027?
Here’s how much some of the major Dutch health insurance providers are charging for their basic policy next year:
- CZ: €177.25 a month (up by more than €17)
- Zilveren Kruis: €159.45 a month (up by €5.50)
- OHRA: €177.35 a month (up by €17.8)
- Menzis: €165.75 a month (up by €9.50)
- VGZ: €167.40 a month (up by €17.50)
The smaller insurer DSW announced its rates for 2027 in October, going up to €173.25 per month. Typically, the insurer is the first to publish its upcoming rates, giving you an idea of what your wallet can expect.
Meanwhile, the health insurance deductible is also increasing in 2027, from €385 to €400. The cabinet originally intended to raise the deductible to €460, but even Dutch MPs could tell that was a bad idea, and it failed to reach a parliamentary majority.
How can you keep health insurance costs manageable?
According to Bas Knopperts, a health insurance expert at comparison site Independer, your best bet is raising your voluntary deductible.
“By increasing your deductible, you can save up to €250 per year on your premium,” he tells news site BNR. Of course, this only works if you’re healthy and don’t typically use up your annual deductible.
Another option, he stresses, is to consider switching providers: “If your healthcare needs don’t change, it might be smart to switch health insurance.”
Prefer your existing provider? Fair enough. To keep your wallet healthy, you may want to assess if your supplementary insurance plans are necessary.
“We tend to overinsure ourselves in the Netherlands,” Knopperts states. And overinsuring yourself can be a major drain on your finances, especially if a cheaper, basic healthcare package is all you require.
With December 31, the last day to switch health insurance providers, swiftly approaching, there’s certainly a lot to mull over.
Will you be switching insurers at the end of the year, or are you sticking with your provider? Share your thoughts in the comments below.
