Healthcare cover abroad

When you are insured for healthcare expenses in the Netherlands, you can also use your Dutch health insurance for medical care in your country of residence. You are entitled to reimbursement of the costs of medical care in accordance with the statutory insurance package of your country of residence.

Conditions for cover abroad

The following conditions apply to a reimbursement of the costs of care abroad by virtue the HollandZorg health insurance:

1. All conditions in connection with that care have been met before you receive that care.
   The right to reimbursement of the costs of care abroad is subject to the same conditions as those for the right to reimbursement of the costs of that care in the Netherlands.
   If you need a prescription, referral or prior written consent from us for certain care in the Netherlands, this condition also applies abroad. View our online health insurance reimbursements schedule or read our insurance conditions to find out about the conditions for each type of care.
   
2. If it concerns care with hospitalisation of at least one night, you need our written consent before you receive the care.
   You do not need written consent if it concerns medically necessary care. In this case, medically necessary is taken to mean unforeseen care that cannot reasonably be postponed until you have returned to the Netherlands.
   
3. The care provider giving the care holds qualifications that are equal to qualifications that apply to the care providers we appoint in the Netherlands.

The qualifications of the care provider must be in accordance with the laws of the country where the care provider is established. Care providers abroad often have received different training than care providers in the Netherlands. Qualifications that meet Directive 2001/19/EC, OJ EC L206 for physicians, dentists, obstetricians, nurses and dispensing chemists who are trained in one of the EU countries, are expected to comply with this.

Call the Emergency Centre if you need care abroad

If you need care outside the Netherlands and outside your country of residence, it is important that you always call the HollandZorg Emergency Centre first. Our staff will tell you whether your request for care is ‘medically necessary’ and gives you information about the reimbursement of the care. They will also tell you which care provider you should contact. Are you going to a care provider without calling the Emergency Centre? If so, you may have to advance the amount or you may not be reimbursed for what you expect. You can contact the Emergency Centre:

• By telephone on +31 (0)570 68 71 12;
• By mail to alarmcentrale@hollandzorg.nl.

The emergency center can be reached 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.