The Dutch health care system (2024)

The philosophy underpinning the Dutch health care system is based on several more or less universal principles: access to care for all, solidarity through medical insurance (which is compulsory for all and available to all) and high-quality health care services. Inevitably, the Dutch system has also been shaped by a number of historical trends and developments and social conditions.

Foundation of the health care system

The Dutch health care system is governed by 4 basic healthcare-related acts:

  • the Health Insurance Act (Zorgverzekeringswet)
  • the Long-Term Care Act (Wet langdurige zorg)
  • the Social Support Act (Wet maatschappelijke ondersteuning)
  • the Youth Act (Jeugdwet)

The 4 healthcare-related acts form the foundation of the Dutch healthcare system. The Health Insurance Act (which provides for hospital care) and the Long-Term Care Act (which focuses on other types of care) account for the bulk of the healthcare budget available in the Netherlands.
The Long-Term Care Act is a national act governing healthcare throughout the Netherlands. In implementing the Health Insurance Act, private health insurance companies play a key role in a system based on “regulated competition” and a number of specific public requirements.
The Social Support Act and the Youth Act provide for other forms of care and support. The roughly 400 municipalities in the Netherlands are primarily responsible for enforcing these 2 acts.

Principles of the Dutch healthcare system

The current Dutch healthcare system can best be explained by looking at a number of recent changes. In 2006 the new Health Insurance Act entered into force, under which all residents of the Netherlands are entitled to a comprehensive basic health insurance package. This act is implemented by private, competitive health insurers and healthcare providers. It should be noted that virtually all health insurance companies in the Netherlands are not-for-profit cooperatives that allocate any profits they make to the reserves they are required to maintain or return them in the form of lower premiums.

Long-term care, youth health services and social support

The Long-Term Care Act, the Social Support Act and the Youth Act were introduced more recently, having entered into force in their present form in 2015. The Long-Term Care Act is administered by special long-term care administrators at the behest of the central government. Additionally, several other organisations are involved in its implementation, such as the Centraal Indicatiestelling Zorg (Care Assessment Agency) and the Centraal AdministratieKantoor (Central administration Office). The local authorities are responsible for implementing the Social Support Act and the Youth Act – they provide the support, assistance or care services or are supported in this process by a healthcare provider.

The motivations behind these laws are opportunities to improve the quality of the care provided, promote an integrated approach, and keep healthcare available and affordable in times of an ageing population and in which many people suffer from chronic illnesses. The foundation of these domains are people’s opportunities rather than their shortcomings. Initially, people are encouraged to draw on their own network and resources for support, but support is always available for those unable to secure it themselves. Those requiring permanent supervision or 24-hour home care are entitled to care services under the Long-Term Care Act.

The text above is an abstract from a publication of the Ministry of Public Health, Welfare and Sport. Read the full text in the publication 'Healthcare in the Netherlands'.

National Health Care Institute

The National Health Care Institute (Zorginstituut Nederland) carries out tasks relating to two Dutch statutory health insurance schemes: the Health Insurance Act (Zorgverzekeringswet) and the Long-Term Care Act (Wet langdurige Zorg, Wlz). Read more on these tasks on the webpage 'Tasks of the National Health Care Institute'.

The Dutch health care system (2024)
Top Articles
2024 investment hotspots for buy-to-let landlords in London | Foxtons
Top five most wasted foods (and ways to save them from the bin)
Trevor Goodwin Obituary St Cloud
What Are Romance Scams and How to Avoid Them
Undergraduate Programs | Webster Vienna
Vanadium Conan Exiles
Gameday Red Sox
Mikayla Campino Video Twitter: Unveiling the Viral Sensation and Its Impact on Social Media
Mndot Road Closures
Grand Park Baseball Tournaments
Nichole Monskey
Gas Station Drive Thru Car Wash Near Me
Socket Exception Dunkin
What Time Chase Close Saturday
Funny Marco Birth Chart
Insidekp.kp.org Hrconnect
Guidewheel lands $9M Series A-1 for SaaS that boosts manufacturing and trims carbon emissions | TechCrunch
Peraton Sso
Aldi Sign In Careers
Used Sawmill For Sale - Craigslist Near Tennessee
50 Shades Darker Movie 123Movies
Find Such That The Following Matrix Is Singular.
使用 RHEL 8 时的注意事项 | Red Hat Product Documentation
12 Top-Rated Things to Do in Muskegon, MI
Baja Boats For Sale On Craigslist
2021 Volleyball Roster
Anotherdeadfairy
Naya Padkar Gujarati News Paper
Skycurve Replacement Mat
City Of Durham Recycling Schedule
Shoe Station Store Locator
Street Fighter 6 Nexus
Gwu Apps
Nobodyhome.tv Reddit
Empires And Puzzles Dark Chest
Fetus Munchers 1 & 2
Lovein Funeral Obits
Shane Gillis’s Fall and Rise
Xxn Abbreviation List 2023
Atom Tickets – Buy Movie Tickets, Invite Friends, Skip Lines
Top 40 Minecraft mods to enhance your gaming experience
Denise Monello Obituary
Scythe Banned Combos
Enr 2100
Menu Forest Lake – The Grillium Restaurant
Noga Funeral Home Obituaries
Zom 100 Mbti
Every Type of Sentinel in the Marvel Universe
Hkx File Compatibility Check Skyrim/Sse
Subdomain Finer
Dumb Money Showtimes Near Regal Stonecrest At Piper Glen
Latest Posts
Article information

Author: Horacio Brakus JD

Last Updated:

Views: 6083

Rating: 4 / 5 (71 voted)

Reviews: 86% of readers found this page helpful

Author information

Name: Horacio Brakus JD

Birthday: 1999-08-21

Address: Apt. 524 43384 Minnie Prairie, South Edda, MA 62804

Phone: +5931039998219

Job: Sales Strategist

Hobby: Sculling, Kitesurfing, Orienteering, Painting, Computer programming, Creative writing, Scuba diving

Introduction: My name is Horacio Brakus JD, I am a lively, splendid, jolly, vivacious, vast, cheerful, agreeable person who loves writing and wants to share my knowledge and understanding with you.