All health insurers must announce the monthly premiums for 2023 in mid-November. All known premiums were higher and Univé is also increasing the premiums of its health insurance policies. Depending on which insurance you have, you will pay about a tenner more at Univé next year.
Prices have to go up because healthcare costs are rising. Not only because of the aging population, but also the material costs more, wages are rising and energy costs also play a role. “There is no escaping it”, says Ron Bavelaar, chairman of the Board of Directors of Coöperatie Univé.
No less than 43 percent of all Dutch people are afraid that they will no longer be able to afford health insurance. This is evident from research by Q&A Insight commissioned by comparison site Independer. Univé, with head offices in Assen and Zwolle, also expects more people to have payment problems. “We are affiliated with the debt relief route,” explains Bavelaar.
Via the debt assistance route, people can take an anonymous money test at the website geldfit.nl. “Based on the outcome, it may be that people have already been helped with a number of useful tips or that people need heavier support. Then there are specialists who can help. To prevent you from getting into debt and not being able to pay certain bills .” Debt counselors do not dare to say whether more people will actually end up with debts. The expectations are there according to several organizations.
Unive sees the number of people who can no longer pay the healthcare bill slowly increase. “It is naive to think that it will not increase further. As a consumer you try to pay your fixed costs. That can also be at the expense of your savings.”
“If we detect payment arrears, we will contact you,” says Bavelaar. “Then we refer you to that debt assistance route, so that you can see where you can be helped. if you don’t pay your bill, the debts will go up. You have to prevent that.”
According to comparison site Independer, about 40 percent of people say they might want to switch. Bavelaar also expects more switchers than last year. He wants to give the consumer one more thing: “Don’t be blinded by the increase in health care premiums. Look especially at your supplementary insurance, you can make savings there.”