Netherlands: Healthcare insurance cost tripled over past seven years since Government introduced new privatized scheme

The cost of healthcare insurance has tripled over the past seven years in the Netherlands , a recent study showed.
 
In 2005, when the Netherlands had a state run national healthcare service, people with insurance would receive a rebate if they stayed below the allowed cost for treatments.

With the new privatized healthcare system there also is a deductible based on the premium a person pays, turning the Dutch health care insurance into what some say is a “win-win” situation for the Dutch health-care insurance companies.

For people which had the least costly insurance in 2005, the cost has risen even five times, says the report.

Insurance company DSW says it will not raise its own-risk premium in 2013 because parmaceutical products have become cheaper. However, other insurers are saying they will have to raise the own-risk price to cover their costs.

A recent poll also showed that 80 % of the Dutch population wants to return to the old National Health Care Foundation Program.

EU-Digest