You need to have health insurance if you have an asylum residence permit
Have you been granted an asylum residence permit? Then you need to get health insurance as soon as you have your own home. On this page you can read more about getting health insurance.
You are required to have basic insurance
Everyone living in the Netherlands is required to have basic health insurance. You are then insured for basic healthcare. For example, a general practitioner, hospital, psychological care and pharmacies. Every month you pay a fixed amount to be able to make use of basic healthcare. This is called a premium. Every year you can choose a different health insurance before 1 January.
You can choose whether you also want supplementary health insurance
In addition to basic insurance, you can also purchase supplementary insurance. This costs more money per month. Supplementary insurance pays extra expenses that the basic insurance does not cover.
For example, dental insurance, insurance for when you need glasses or lenses, or physical therapy. Supplementary insurance is not mandatory. Every year you can choose supplementary health insurance before 1 January.
You can choose the amount of your excess
In addition to the basic insurance, you also pay a portion of the healthcare costs you incur yourself. This is called the "eigen risico" (deductible). For the basic insurance in 2025, every adult has a mandatory deductible of at least €385 per year.
How does this work? Suppose you go to the family doctor. You do not have to pay for an appointment with the family doctor yourself – this is covered by the basic insurance and is covered by your premium. But if the doctor prescribes medication, you pay for it (partly) yourself from your deductible.
Example: You receive medication that costs a total of € 500. You then first pay € 385 yourself, because that is your deductible. The health insurance pays the remaining € 115.
Additional options for your deductible
Most health insurance companies give you the option of paying the mandatory deductible in advance each month. You then pay an additional amount for your deductible each month in addition to your premium. Did you opt for this, but did not use up all the money? Then the health insurance will pay you back.
You can also opt for a higher deductible. Then you often pay a lower premium, but have to pay for more healthcare yourself. This is useful if you need little care and have plenty of savings to pay for healthcare yourself.