Reimbursement of healthcare abroad

Medical care abroad

With your Dutch health insurance, you are also entitled to medical care abroad. This applies, for example, if you are in your country of residence, or if you are travelling abroad temporarily for work, a holiday or to visit family.

What we reimburse depends on: 

• the country you are in, and
• the type of care you receive.

Below you can read how the reimbursement works.

Conditions for cover abroad

The following conditions apply to the reimbursement of healthcare costs incurred abroad under HollandZorg’s health insurance:

• All conditions applicable to that healthcare must be met before you receive it

  The same conditions apply to the entitlement to reimbursement of healthcare costs abroad as to the entitlement to reimbursement of those costs in the Netherlands. If you require a prescription, a referral or prior written authorisation from us for certain healthcare in the Netherlands, this condition also applies abroad. Please check our online health insurance reimbursement overview for the conditions per type of care, or read our insurance terms and conditions. For care involving a hospital stay of at least one night, you require our written authorisation before receiving the care.

• You do not need written consent in the case of medically necessary care

  By medically necessary care, we mean unforeseen care that cannot reasonably be postponed until you return to the Netherlands.

• The healthcare provider delivering the care must hold qualifications equivalent to those required of the healthcare providers we have designated in the Netherlands

  The healthcare provider’s qualifications must comply with the law of the country in which the healthcare provider is established. Healthcare providers abroad often have a different educational background to those in the Netherlands. Qualifications that comply with Directive 2001/19/EC, OJ EC L206, for doctors, dentists, midwives, nurses and pharmacists trained in one of the EU countries are deemed to meet these requirements.

Reimbursement of healthcare in EU/EEA and treaty countries

Do you live or are you staying temporarily in an EU/EEA country or treaty country other than the Netherlands? Then in that country, or in another EU/EEA country or treaty country, you are entitled to:

1. Reimbursement in accordance with Dutch rules

You will receive reimbursement as if you were receiving the healthcare in the Netherlands from a non-contracted healthcare provider:

• Does HollandZorg have a maximum rate for this healthcare? If so, we will reimburse up to this rate. The insurance terms and conditions state whether such a maximum applies for each type of care.
• If there is no maximum rate, we will reimburse up to the market rate in the Netherlands. This is the standard rate for that care in the Netherlands.
  
  

2. Reimbursement in accordance with the rules of the country where you are

You may also be entitled to care or reimbursement in accordance with the statutory rules of health insurance in that country.

Please note: The reimbursement under point 1 does not apply if you cannot receive the care (in time) from a contracted healthcare provider, or only from one located far from your place of residence or stay. In that case, you will receive reimbursement under point 2, or according to the market rate in the Netherlands.

 

Care from a contracted care provider

Are you receiving care from a contracted healthcare provider in an EU/EEA country or a treaty country? If so, the following applies:

• We will reimburse the full cost of the care up to the rate we have agreed with this healthcare provider.
• If the contract with the healthcare provider ends during your treatment, we will reimburse the remaining care up to a maximum of the market rate in the Netherlands.
• In addition, you may be entitled to care or reimbursement in accordance with the local legal regulations of that country.

Use our Care Finder to find a contracted care provider near you. You can also contact our Customer Services on +31 (0)570 687 123.

 

Reimbursement of costs in other countries

Do you live or are you staying temporarily in a country that is not an EU/EEA country or a treaty country? In that case, you are entitled to reimbursement of the following costs for healthcare in that country:

• Does HollandZorg have a maximum rate for this healthcare? If so, we will reimburse up to this rate.
• Is there no maximum rate? In that case, we will reimburse up to the market rate in the Netherlands.
• If you are unable to receive the healthcare (in time) from a contracted healthcare provider, or only from a provider far from your place of stay, the market rate in the Netherlands will always apply. 

We always reimburse healthcare costs in euros. If you paid for the healthcare in a different currency, we will, where possible, use the exchange rate on the date you received the healthcare.

This is a summary. For a full overview of reimbursement abroad, please read our policy terms and conditions. 

Do you need urgent medical care whilst abroad?

Are you staying abroad and do you need urgent medical care? Please contact our emergency centre if you require urgent medical care. Our emergency centre will help you find medical care. You can also obtain information about the reimbursement of medical costs. You can reach the emergency centre by telephone on: +31 (0)570 68 71 12. The emergency centre is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.