Fewer Dutch people are switching to another health insurance policy this year. According to comparison site Zorgwijzer, this is probably because premiums remain largely the same or even become slightly lower. According to Zorgwijzer, the number of switches is more than a quarter lower than in the same period last year.
According to knowledge center Vektis, the amount of the monthly amount is an important reason for people to switch. On average, six to seven percent of policyholders switch health insurers every year, with the exception of 2022-2023, when 8.2 percent switched.
“Many premiums remain the same or even decrease slightly, which means that the shock effect that we saw in previous years is completely absent,” says Koen Kuijper of Zorgwijzer. “People feel less urgency to take immediate action when they receive their new policy proposal.” The comparison site expects some catching up from people who switch at the last minute.
Negotiations
Another reason for switching is that not all hospitals have entered into a new contract with health insurers. This also applies to Brabant. Health insurers negotiate with hospitals about rates and the number of treatments to purchase care for their policyholders.
If your hospital does not have a contract with your insurer, you will have to pay part of the healthcare costs yourself. This year, contract negotiations between hospitals and insurers are later than last year, notes Wouter Heuvelink, healthcare expert at ZorgKiezer. He mentions it detrimental to patients.
For example, the Catharina Hospital in Eindhoven is still in discussions with ASR, CZ, Menzis, Salland and ONVZ. Bravis in Roosendaal and Bergen op Zoom are still negotiating with VGZ and CZ, and Bernhoven with Achmea, ASR and Menzis. At Bernhoven there was no prospect of a contract yet on December 24. The Jeroen Bosch Hospital does have a contract with all health insurers, just like the ETZ (Elisabeth-Tweesteden Hospital) in Tilburg. At that hospital, a contract has only been concluded with VGZ and Zilveren Kruis for mental health care.
Still check every year
Health insurers are not obliged to conclude a contract with all hospitals, but they must complete contract negotiations on time, officially before November 12. “This gives people enough time to explore a possible new health insurance policy. Of course, they also look at the hospitals. As long as the contract is not yet ‘green’, they postpone their choice.”
This can lead to people adjusting their transition completely. “Worrisome, because it is good to check every year whether you are still in good condition. Perhaps something has changed in your situation or your care needs are different. Consider pregnancy, cohabitation or other work.”