Health insurance could cost you €177 more next year

Health insurance premiums in the Netherlands are set to increase by €177 next year, according to a report from DSW, the country's largest health insurer. The basic insurance package, which is mandatory for all residents, will rise to €173.50 per month, or €2,082 a year, from January 2027. This 9.3% increase is the largest percentage rise in health insurance costs since 2011, when premiums went up by 10%.

DSW's chair, Aad de Groot, expressed surprise at the magnitude of the increase, stating it's the most significant he's seen in his eight years working in the industry. The hike also exceeds the health ministry's estimate of a 12.5% increase for next year. Low-income earners will bear the brunt of the higher costs, as the maximum health benefit is set to rise by €11 a month for those earning the minimum wage.

Additionally, the patient excess, or deductible, is increasing for the first time in a decade, with patients now required to pay the first €400 of treatment costs, up from €385. DSW's decision to raise premiums comes despite cuts to mental health care, hospital care, and home care services, which the insurer claims the government failed to account for in its budget calculations.

De Groot emphasized that while the increase is painful, it's necessary due to the reduced government funding. Approximately 200,000 Dutch residents have fallen behind on their insurance payments, a rise from 172,000 in 2022. Insurers are required to publish their rates by November 12, allowing residents until the end of the year to decide if they want to switch to a different insurer for 2027.