The health insurers have contributed millions of euros from the reserves to reduce the premium amount. In addition, there was a one-off windfall because more money came into the government’s Health Insurance Fund. That surplus is now being used to keep premiums lower.
‘Healthcare premium will rise again’
Art Beuting of VGZ emphasizes that healthcare costs are still rising: “This reduction is not a structural trend.” Insurer Menzis writes that ‘the health care premium will most likely rise sharply in 2027’.
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After years of rising health insurance premiums, it is being reduced VGZ has raised the premium for its basic insurance for the first time since 2020. Customers of the Arnhem health insurer will pay more than three euros less per month next year. Major increases are also not likely to occur at other health insurers.
Organize healthcare costs smarter
Art Beuting from VGZ says that ‘organizing differently and smarter’ also saves healthcare costs: “We see that digitalization and more control are yielding initial results for our members.” He is referring, among other things, to digital consultations, more remote care with home monitoring, fewer unnecessary treatments.
On the other hand, he is realistic: “The pressure on the healthcare system remains as great as ever. The aging population, the increase in chronic diseases and the growing shortage of healthcare workers ensure that healthcare remains increasingly difficult to access.”
Smarter organization that gives the patient more control over their own treatment also helps to save healthcare costs. © Getty Images
According to the insurance man, this requires continued healthcare innovation: “Only then can we continue to provide the care that is needed, not only now but also in the future.”
According to Joep de Groot, chairman of CZ, there is also a lot to be gained by working well with social care providers because many people who go to the doctor do not have a medical problem, but suffer from complaints due to stress, loneliness or debt, for example.
Care avoiders
The major insurers expect premiums to rise again in 2027. Dirk Jan Sloots, the financial man at Menzis, is concerned about the group of people for whom health insurance premiums are becoming increasingly difficult to afford.
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He therefore points to The Hague: “Political choices are needed that are aimed at people who really need it. Avoidance of care due to financial barriers is an urgent problem and requires targeted solutions.”
Switching health insurance
Every adult Dutch person is obliged to take out basic insurance. You may change insurers once a year. There is quite a lot to choose from. Before the year 2025, there were almost sixty different basic insurance policies offered by about twenty health insurers.
A large number of these health insurers operate under the flag of one of the four major groups. In addition to VGZ, CZ and Menzis, this is also Achmea/Zilveren Kruis. Together, these four groups serve no less than 84.6 percent of all insured people.
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Health insurers do not have to announce the premiums for their additional packages until next week, no later than November 19. The old insurance can be canceled until December 31 and people have one more month to choose a new insurance, until January 31.