How to Switch Health Insurance in the Netherlands: A Step-by-Step Guide

You Can Only Switch Once a Year — Here's When

Switching Dutch health insurance (zorgverzekering overstappen) is tightly controlled by law. There is one annual window: November 12 to December 31. Any plan you choose during this period takes effect on January 1 of the following year.

If you miss this window, you're locked into your current plan for the rest of the year — with very limited exceptions.

This guide walks you through the full process, from deciding whether to switch to completing the move without any coverage gaps.

Should You Switch? The Quick Test

Not everyone needs to switch every year. But you should at least review your plan if any of the following apply:

Your premium went up — insurers announce annual price changes in mid-November
Your health needs changed — new condition, started physiotherapy, had a baby
You moved to a different city — your insurer's contracted hospitals may be different
You want better supplementary coverage — dental, physio, glasses
You found a significantly cheaper plan that covers the same needs

The average Dutch person saves €200–400 per year by switching. Many people never switch — and overpay for years as a result.

The Switching Window: Key Dates

Action	Deadline
Compare plans and decide	November 12 – December 31
Sign up with new insurer	By December 31
New insurer notifies old insurer	Done automatically
Old policy ends	December 31
New policy starts	January 1

You do not need to cancel your old policy. When you sign up with a new insurer, they handle the cancellation for you. This is required by Dutch law — insurers must accept the cancellation notification from another insurer.

Step 1: Check What You Actually Use

Before comparing prices, make an honest assessment of your healthcare use:

Specialist visits — did you see a specialist this year? Will you next year?
Physiotherapy, dental, mental health — these require aanvullende verzekering (supplementary insurance)
Medicines — are your prescriptions covered under basic insurance, or do you need extra?
Preferred hospital — if you have one, check whether your insurer contracts with it

If you rarely see doctors beyond your GP, a lower-premium plan with a higher voluntary deductible (vrijwillig eigen risico) can save you significantly.

Step 2: Understand the Deductible

Every Dutch resident pays the mandatory deductible (verplicht eigen risico): €385 per year in 2026. This applies to all basic plans.

You can voluntarily increase your deductible by €100, €200, €300, €400, or €500 in exchange for a premium discount:

Extra deductible	Premium discount (approx.)
€100	~€12/month
€200	~€18/month
€300	~€22/month
€400	~€25/month
€500	~€26/month

This only makes financial sense if you're healthy and rarely use specialist care. If you expect to hit the deductible anyway, don't increase it.

Step 3: Choose Your Policy Type

There are three types of Dutch health insurance:

Natura: Cheapest. You use contracted providers. Going out-of-network means you pay most of the bill yourself.
Restitutie: Most flexible. You can see any provider in the Netherlands (and partly abroad) and get reimbursed at market rate.
Combinatie: A middle ground — contracted GPs and hospitals, with partial reimbursement for others.

For expats who want flexibility (or who travel to their home country for care), restitutie is usually worth the higher premium.

Step 4: Compare and Switch

Use CareCompare's plan comparison tool to filter by price, type, and coverage. When you've chosen a plan:

Go directly to the new insurer's website
Fill in your BSN, address, and payment details
Select your voluntary deductible (if any)
Choose a start date of January 1

Most insurers offer an online process that takes 10–15 minutes.

Important: Sign up with your new insurer before December 31. If you wait until the 31st, websites can be slow or experience outages.

Step 5: Confirm the Switch

After signing up, you'll receive:

A confirmation email from your new insurer
A new policy document (polisblad) in January
A new insurance card (usually digital)

Your old insurer will receive automatic notice and cancel your old policy. You do not need to call them or send a letter.

What Happens to Ongoing Treatment?

If you're in the middle of treatment, check the following:

GP (huisarts): Almost always contracted by every insurer. No issue.
Specialist: If you switch from natura to restitutie, you can continue with any specialist. If you switch between natura plans, check if your hospital is in the new network.
Mental health (GGZ): Covered under basic insurance, but contracted networks vary. Confirm your provider is in network before switching.

Your insurer cannot refuse to cover ongoing treatment that was already approved. But coverage for new referrals after January 1 will follow the rules of your new plan.

Common Switching Mistakes to Avoid

Forgetting to add supplementary insurance — you choose basic and supplementary together during enrollment
Missing the December 31 deadline — even by one day means you stay with your old insurer
Choosing the cheapest plan without checking the hospital network — if your specialist isn't contracted, you'll pay significant out-of-pocket costs
Not applying for zorgtoeslag after switching — if your new premium is lower, your benefit amount changes. Update your application.

Checklist for Switching

Review your healthcare use this year
Compare all plans side by side
Decide on voluntary deductible
Sign up with new insurer by December 31
Check that ongoing treatment is covered under new plan
Update zorgtoeslag application if needed
Register with a new GP if you've moved — how to find a huisarts

Switching takes less than 15 minutes once you know what you want. Start comparing plans now.