Forgetting to check a box with your health or travel insurance can be expensive. That happened to Suzanne van Herk from Asten. After an unfortunate fall on holiday in Mexico, she broke her vertebra, ended up in a private hospital and was left with a bill of 56,000 euros. This way you avoid coming home with such a high bill.
Anyone who unexpectedly ends up in hospital abroad may face high costs despite having Dutch health insurance. The health insurer only reimburses medical care abroad up to the amount that the same treatment would cost in the Netherlands. In countries where care is much more expensive, such as the United States, Canada, Switzerland, Japan and several South American countries, that difference can amount to tens of thousands of euros.
Suzanne ended up in a private clinic instead of a state hospital. There are no exact figures on how many Dutch people end up in such a private clinic, but it happens regularly. For example in Greece, Spain or ski areas in Austria. And those costs are even higher. You pay that extra amount yourself.
Travel insurance
“That happens often,” says Joyce Donat of the Consumers’ Association. “People think they are completely covered, but that is not the case.” How do you avoid losing tens of thousands of euros in unexpected costs? This can be done in two ways.
You can take out travel insurance with coverage for medical costs. This insurance also covers non-medical costs, such as travel and accommodation costs and repatriation, for example of family members who have traveled with you. You can also often get the deductible of your health insurance back through this insurance.
In addition, there is no maximum amount for medical costs through travel insurance: all medical costs are reimbursed. The disadvantage is that the coverage is sometimes double what you already have through your health insurance.
Pay close attention
Additional health insurance is also available. The disadvantage of this is that not everything is reimbursed. Emergency assistance, transport of family members or repatriation due to death are usually not covered. Some supplementary insurance policies reimburse care outside Europe up to a maximum of twice the rate of treatment in the Netherlands. You also cannot take out this insurance all year round.
“Be aware that without additional insurance you may be faced with surprises,” warns Elias van Hees of the Dutch Association of Insurers. He advises paying close attention, especially to the type of insurance people have when they go hiking in the mountains, for example. You must coordinate this carefully with your travel insurance to avoid surprises,” says a spokesperson.
What should you do if you have an accident and are taken to a private hospital? “With a broken leg you can still say: I want to go to a state hospital,” says Dalton. “It’s different with a broken back.” In any case: contact your insurance as soon as possible. He can advise what is best to do. “If they are informed, they may be able to arrange for you to be transferred to a cheaper hospital. Then you will not be in a private clinic for two weeks, but for two days.”