Health insurance in the Netherlands | The application process

How to apply for health insurance in the Netherlands 

Claire LangenhoffExpert Zorgverzekeringen

19-03-2018

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28-07-2026

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4 min leestijd

Wouter Heuvelink

Gecontroleerd door onze zorgexpert

Before you can apply for Dutch health insurance, you need to register with your new municipality and receive your BSN (burgerservicenummer), your personal citizen service number. Without a BSN, no insurer can accept your application. Once you're registered, you have 4 months to apply for a basic health insurance policy, and your coverage starts retroactively from your registration date, not from the day you sign up. Below, you'll find each step of the process, what happens if you need care before you've applied (or wait too long), and how to cancel if you change your mind. 

What do I need before I can apply? 

You need a BSN, which you receive after registering with your municipality (or with the RNI desk if you're staying in the Netherlands for less than 4 months). You'll also need your date of birth and address, since some premiums are age-related and your postal code determines which hospitals are contracted in your area. Without a BSN, an insurer cannot process your application, so this is always your first step. 

How long do I have to apply? 

You have 4 months from your registration date to apply for a basic health insurance policy. Your coverage starts on the date you registered, not the date you apply, so you'll owe premium for the months in between as well. 

For example: you register on 25 June and apply for insurance on 1 August. Your policy still starts on 25 June, so you'll need to pay premium for June and July too, even though you weren't insured yet on paper. This retroactive start is exactly why needing care during those first 4 months isn't a real problem: once you apply within the 4-month window, that care is covered after all, and you settle the backdated premium (and any deductible) with your insurer afterwards. 

Wait longer than 4 months without applying? Then you're considered uninsured, and this retroactive safety net disappears. The CAK (the government body that checks this) will send you a letter and give you 3 more months to arrange insurance. Ignore that too, and the CAK can arrange a policy for you automatically, at a higher premium, and add a big fine on top. Any care you need while genuinely uninsured, you pay for entirely yourself, and it is not reimbursed afterwards, even once you do eventually take out insurance. 

How does the application process work? 

Step 1: Start the application 
Fill in your date of birth, gender, and postal code. 

Step 2: Choose your deductible ("eigen risico") 
Select the deductible you want. A higher deductible lowers your monthly premium, but means you pay more yourself before your insurer starts covering costs. Read more about the deductible to see what fits your situation. 

Step 3: Select your extra coverage ("jouw wensen") 
Choose any supplementary coverage you want, on top of the mandatory basic insurance. This might include: 

• Fysiotherapie (physical therapy): a set number of covered treatments per year. 

• Tandarts (dental care): a percentage or amount of dental costs per year. 

• Any other extra coverage you need, such as glasses or alternative medicine. 

Don't need anything beyond basic coverage? Then skip this step entirely. 

Step 4: Complete your application 
Click "zoek de laagste premie" ("find the lowest premium") to see insurers sorted by monthly cost. Click "vraag aan" ("apply") on the one you want, fill in your personal details, and submit. You'll receive a confirmation email right away, and your policy documents from the insurer within about 5 business days. 

Not sure which option fits your situation, or would rather just talk it through? Call us on 020 2611 600, our team is happy to help you find the right policy and walk you through the application. 

Can I cancel after I've applied? 

Yes. By law, you have 14 days of cooling-off period after signing up for a new policy. Within those 14 days, you can cancel free of charge and without giving a reason. After that, your basic insurance runs for the rest of the calendar year and can usually only be cancelled when you switch insurers at the end of the year. 

What about healthcare allowance ("zorgtoeslag")? 

Once your insurance is active, you can apply for zorgtoeslag: a monthly contribution from the government toward your premium, if your income is below a certain threshold. The income limit changes every year and differs for singles and couples, so check the current amounts on the Belastingdienst website before you apply. You apply through the Belastingdienst or via MijnToeslagen.nl, ideally right after your policy starts, since you can request it retroactively but it's simpler to arrange it straight away.