This guide is for you if you live or work in the Netherlands – whether employed, through a temporary employment agency (uitzendbureau), or if you are planning to move. We explain how Dutch health insurance (zorgverzekering) works, how much it costs you in 2026, how to use a general practitioner (huisarts), what happens to your insurance with NFZ, and what to watch out for when the agency arranges your policy.
Last verification: October 21, 2026. Informational material – not legal, tax, or medical advice. Data may change; confirm with an official source.
In Brief
- If you work in the Netherlands for a Dutch employer, you must have Dutch basic insurance (basisverzekering) – you have 4 months to arrange this, and the policy is retroactive from the first day of work (SKGZ, Government.nl).
- The mandatory eigen risico (deductible) in 2026 is €385 annually for individuals aged 18 and over; visits to the general practitioner and huisartsenpost are exempt from this (Rijksoverheid).
- Dental care for adults is generally not included in the basic package – you need additional insurance (aanvullende verzekering) or pay out of pocket (Rijksoverheid).
- Health insurance subsidy (zorgtoeslag) in 2026 is available for incomes up to €40,857 (single) or €51,142 (with a partner) (Belastingdienst).
- Lack of insurance despite the obligation results in a penalty from CAK: €529.74, followed by a second identical penalty, and finally CAK will purchase a policy for you (CAK).
- When you start working in the Netherlands, you are generally subject to Dutch health insurance regulations, not Polish ones (NFZ).
Who Must Have Dutch Insurance
The Dutch system is based on one principle: anyone who lives or works in the Netherlands and is subject to its legislation must purchase basisverzekering from a Dutch insurer – even if they already have insurance in another country (Government.nl). The state advisory center SKGZ states this directly in Polish: if you live and work in the Netherlands, and your employer is based in the Netherlands, you must have Dutch basic insurance (SKGZ, Polish page).
4-month deadline – purchase insurance as soon as possible, no later than four months from the start of work. The policy will then be retroactive from the first day of work, but you will also pay premiums retroactively (SKGZ).
After 4 months – insurance no longer works retroactively. You pay from the day the policy is concluded, but you will not receive reimbursement for treatment during the uninsured period (Government.nl).
Looking for a job – according to SKGZ, a person who has arrived and is still looking for work cannot yet purchase Dutch basic insurance; the obligation starts from the first day of work (SKGZ English). During this time, you use the EKUZ or private insurance.
Posted worker – if a Polish company posts you to the Netherlands (usually for a maximum of 24 months), you remain under NFZ, and the employer must obtain an A1 certificate from ZUS (NFZ, SKGZ).
What Happens with NFZ Insurance
In the EU, you pay health insurance contributions in only one country – this is known as the principle of being subject to one legislation (NFZ). NFZ explains that if you start working in another EU country, you are then subject to the regulations of that country. This also applies to individuals who were registered in Poland as family members, were unemployed, or receiving a pension – after starting work abroad, Polish insurance no longer covers them. Important: if you work abroad, your relatives cannot register you in Poland for insurance as a family member (NFZ).
If you work simultaneously in Poland and the Netherlands, where you pay contributions is determined by ZUS (farmers – KRUS) in the form of a decision (NFZ).
How to Purchase Insurance Step by Step
- Obtain a BSN number
The insurer will ask for your BSN (burgerservicenummer). You receive it automatically upon registration with the municipality. If you are coming for less than 4 months, you can register as a non-resident at the RNI point and receive a BSN there (SKGZ). Note: you need to register with the municipality even before purchasing the policy (Government.nl).
- Prepare an account and address
In addition to the BSN, you need a bank account number and a valid residential address (SKGZ).
- Choose an insurer and policy
You choose the insurer yourself – there are over thirty, and each must accept a person subject to the insurance obligation, regardless of age and health. The scope of the basic package is the same for everyone (SKGZ English). Differences concern, among other things, how many facilities the insurer has contracts with and how much they reimburse for treatment outside that network (Rijksoverheid).
- Decide on additional insurance
Additional insurance (dental, physiotherapy, glasses) is voluntary and can be with a different insurer than the basic one – although not all allow this (SKGZ). The insurer may not accept you for additional insurance (SKGZ English).
- Apply for zorgtoeslag
If you earn little, check if you are entitled to a subsidy. You apply through the toeslagen.nl website, and never pay intermediaries for submitting the application (SKGZ).
When Insurance is Arranged by the Employment Agency
Many Poles in the Netherlands work through agencies that often register the employee for insurance themselves – usually under a group policy, with the premium deducted monthly from the salary (SKGZ). This is convenient, but SKGZ points out that an increasing number of uninsured individuals are (former) migrant workers, and one reason is the connection of the policy to employment (SKGZ).
- Ask for the policy and insurance card – SKGZ emphasizes that this is completely normal in the Netherlands. When you know where you are insured, you can install the insurer's app and track your settlements (SKGZ).
- Check what the policy covers – according to SKGZ, with a policy purchased by the employer, eigen risico is often covered by additional insurance. Ask about this directly, otherwise, for example, for hospital treatment, you will pay the first €385 yourself (SKGZ).
- End of employment often means end of policy – if the insurance was purchased by the employer, they inform the insurer about its termination (SKGZ). Right after losing your job, determine whether and how you are still insured.
- Don't remember where you are insured? The general practitioner or pharmacy can check this in the system. SKGZ states that most migrant workers are insured by Holland Zorg and Zorg en Zekerheid – you can ask there (SKGZ).
- Are you behind on premiums? With arrears, additional insurance usually ends after 1–2 months, and after 6 months, the insurer reports you to CAK. Then you pay a higher administrative premium – €172.70 monthly in 2026 – deducted from your salary or benefits (SKGZ).
How Much It Costs in 2026
You pay a monthly premium to the insurer and – if you use treatment – an annual deductible. The average premium for basic insurance in 2026 is according to CAK €157.00 monthly (CAK); the specific amount depends on the insurer and policy. Children under 18 do not pay premiums or eigen risico (SKGZ English).
| Item | Amount 2026 | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Mandatory eigen risico (from 18 years) | €385 annually | Rijksoverheid |
| Voluntary increase of eigen risico | +100, 200, 300, 400, or 500 € (max. total €885), in exchange for a lower premium | Rijksoverheid |
| Maximum personal contribution for medications (eigen bijdrage) | up to €250 annually | Rijksoverheid |
| Average basic premium | €157.00 monthly | CAK |
| CAK penalty for lack of insurance | €529.74 (each of two penalties) | CAK |
| Administrative premium in case of debt (CAK) | €172.70 monthly | SKGZ |
Eigen risico can be paid in installments – ask your insurer (Rijksoverheid). A higher voluntary eigen risico lowers the premium, but SKGZ advises choosing it only if you have set aside the entire amount (SKGZ).
What the Basic Package Covers and What It Does Not
The scope of the package is determined by the government. Below are the most important items for 2026 (Rijksoverheid):
For children under 18, dental care (check-ups and treatment) is largely included in the basic package and without eigen risico, but orthodontic appliances, crowns, bridges, and implants are not reimbursed (Rijksoverheid).
Comparison: Basic vs. Additional
The same scope with every insurer, the insurer must accept you, eigen risico of €385 applies (SKGZ English, Rijksoverheid).
For example, dental, physiotherapy, glasses; the insurer may refuse to accept you; eigen risico does not apply to it (SKGZ, SKGZ English).
General Practitioner (huisarts) – Your First Point of Contact
The huisarts is usually your first medical contact: they examine, prescribe medications, and refer you further (SKGZ). You cannot make an appointment with a specialist directly – you need a referral (verwijzing) from the doctor; this can be issued by the huisarts or another attending physician, and who exactly does this is specified by your policy. Exceptions are emergencies, such as accidents (Zorginstituut Nederland).
Register at a clinic near your residence as soon as you arrive. Without registration, you can only go to the clinic if it is not overcrowded – the doctor may then charge a fee for a one-time visit, which you then submit to the insurer (SKGZ). SKGZ recommends using the ZorgkaartNederland service to find general practitioners (SKGZ).
Bring your insurance card to the appointment – usually, the facility settles directly with the insurer; rarely will you receive a bill to submit yourself (SKGZ).
In the Evening, on Weekends, and in Emergencies
During clinic working hours. Without eigen risico (Rijksoverheid).
On-call general practitioners outside normal office hours. Also without eigen risico (SKGZ, Rijksoverheid).
In emergencies or life-threatening situations, call 112 (SKGZ). Hospital assistance and ambulance are subject to eigen risico (Rijksoverheid).
How to Find a Polish-speaking Doctor
We do not provide names – we have not verified any list of Polish-speaking doctors. However, you can:
- Ask your insurer if their facility search allows filtering by language,
- Browse the websites of clinics in your area (e.g., through ZorgkaartNederland, which SKGZ points to) and check what languages they mention,
- Ask the employment agency, employer, or local Polish community about experiences with specific clinics,
- Remember that when choosing a policy, it matters whether the facility has a contract with your insurer – otherwise, you may have to pay extra (SKGZ).
Zorgtoeslag – Insurance Subsidy
Zorgtoeslag is a subsidy from the state for the premium and eigen risico for individuals with lower incomes (SKGZ). It is paid by the Dienst Toeslagen (part of Belastingdienst). The condition is having Dutch basic insurance (SKGZ).
| Limit 2026 | Single | With Partner (toeslagpartner) |
|---|---|---|
| Maximum annual income (toetsingsinkomen) | €40,857 | €51,142 |
| Maximum assets (e.g., savings) | €146,011 | €184,633 |
Sources: income limit, asset limit (Belastingdienst). Income for zorgtoeslag is approximately your annual gross income, usually slightly higher – for example, holiday allowance (vakantiegeld) counts (Belastingdienst). Assets are counted as of January 1: if you exceed the limit then, you are not entitled to the subsidy for the entire year (Belastingdienst).
Report any changes in income or situation (e.g., higher earnings, cohabitation) as soon as possible – otherwise, you may have to repay the subsidy. When you lose your Dutch insurance, you must cancel the zorgtoeslag yourself (SKGZ).
Lack of Insurance: What CAK Does
- Letter from CAK
CAK checks whether individuals registered in the municipality have insurance and sends a letter to those who do not have it (Government.nl).
- First penalty: €529.74
If you do not purchase a policy within 3 months of the date of the letter. The amount in 2026 is three times the average monthly cost of insurance (premium plus eigen risico) (CAK).
- Second penalty: €529.74
If you still do not have insurance for the next 3 months (CAK).
- CAK purchases a policy for you
After the second penalty, CAK will take out insurance on your behalf (CAK).
Penalties are collected by CJIB – you have 6 weeks to pay or you can spread it over 3 installments without additional costs (CAK). If you believe you do not need Dutch insurance (e.g., you work for a foreign employer), ask SVB for a so-called onderzoek Wlz – only SVB determines this obligation. Until a decision is made, the penalty must still be paid; if it was unjustified, you will receive a refund (CAK).
Tourists, Job Seekers, and S1
EKUZ – the Polish European Health Insurance Card works in the Netherlands for necessary treatment during your stay, but it ceases to be sufficient when you start working there (SKGZ English). It often only covers emergency assistance, not planned treatment – ask NFZ about the scope and validity period (SKGZ). You can only use EKUZ in public system facilities (NFZ).
S1 Form – if you live in another country (e.g., Belgium or Germany) and work in the Netherlands, you insure yourself in the Netherlands, and from the Dutch insurer, you can receive the S1 form and submit it to the insurer in your country of residence. This allows you to access care in both countries (SKGZ English).
Treatment in Poland with a Dutch policy – if you go to Poland specifically for treatment (e.g., to a hospital), always ask your Dutch insurer for approval first, otherwise, the bill may not be covered (SKGZ).
Common Mistakes
- Postponing the policy – after 4 months, insurance does not work retroactively, and no one will reimburse treatment from that period (Government.nl).
- Believing that EKUZ is sufficient while working in the Netherlands – it is not sufficient (SKGZ English).
- Lack of a copy of the policy and card when the agency arranges insurance (SKGZ).
- Assuming that dental care is included in the basic package – for adults, it generally is not (Rijksoverheid).
- Not reporting changes in income to Dienst Toeslagen – this risks repayment of the subsidy (SKGZ).
- Ignoring letters from the insurer regarding arrears – after 6 months, you end up with CAK and pay €172.70 monthly (SKGZ).
- Paying intermediaries to submit an application for zorgtoeslag (SKGZ).
- Going to a specialist without a referral (except in emergencies) (Zorginstituut Nederland).
Amounts refer to the year 2026 and change every year. Details of reimbursements depend on your policy conditions. If you are unsure whether you need Dutch insurance (e.g., working in two countries, posting, business activity), ask SVB, ZUS, or the free advisory center SKGZ, which has information in Polish (SKGZ). Always discuss health matters with a doctor.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I stay only with NFZ since I am working in the Netherlands for a few months?
Generally, no. From the start of work in another EU country, you are subject to its health insurance regulations (NFZ). The exception is posting by a Polish company with an A1 certificate (NFZ).
Do I pay for a visit to the huisarts?
If you have basic insurance – the visit is included in the package and does not count towards eigen risico (Rijksoverheid). Without insurance, the doctor will charge you immediately after the visit (SKGZ).
Is a psychologist reimbursed?
Basic GGZ (e.g., conversations with a psychologist, online therapy) and specialized GGZ are included in the basic package, but eigen risico applies (Rijksoverheid).
Can I change insurers?
Yes, every year on January 1 (SKGZ English).
Do children need separate insurance?
Children must be registered for insurance, but up to 18 years old, they do not pay premiums or eigen risico. You must register a newborn within 4 months of birth (SKGZ English).
Fact-check Summary
- Definitely true: eigen risico 2026 = €385, without it huisarts and huisartsenpost (Rijksoverheid); zorgtoeslag limits 2026: €40,857 / €51,142 (Belastingdienst); CAK penalty €529.74 (CAK); dental care for adults outside the package except for surgery and X-rays (Rijksoverheid).
- Probably true: in group policies from agencies, eigen risico is often covered by additional insurance – SKGZ states "often," but this depends on the specific agreement (SKGZ).
- What is uncertain: Your situation after losing your job if you still live in the Netherlands – SKGZ states that without work and income from the Netherlands, you are no longer insured there, but this is determined by SVB if you continue to reside (SKGZ, CAK); S1 rules for retirees with a Polish pension living in the Netherlands have not been verified here.
- Common myth: "Without registration in BRP, you cannot purchase insurance" – for stays under 4 months, you can obtain a BSN as a non-resident at the RNI point (SKGZ).
Sources
| Source | Type | Credibility |
|---|---|---|
| Government.nl – When to take out insurance after arrival | Dutch Government | High |
| Rijksoverheid – eigen risico 2026 | Dutch Government | High |
| Rijksoverheid – Contents of the basic package 2026 | Dutch Government | High |
| Belastingdienst – Maximum income for zorgtoeslag | Tax Administration | High |
| Belastingdienst – Asset limit for zorgtoeslag | Tax Administration | High |
| CAK – Penalty for lack of insurance | Public Authority | High |
| SKGZ – Information in Polish | Government-funded advisory center | High |
| SKGZ – Information in English | Government-funded advisory center | High |
| Zorginstituut Nederland – Specialist care and referrals | Public Institute | High |
| NFZ – Work in EU/EFTA countries | Polish public payer | High |
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