Your first Dutch medical bill arrives and you are charged for care you thought was insured. Welcome to eigen risico, the deductible at the heart of the Dutch health system, and one of the most misunderstood things for newcomers. Here is what it means, what it costs, and what it does not touch.
What eigen risico is
Eigen risico (literally “own risk”) is the mandatory deductible on your basic health insurance (basisverzekering). As iamexpat’s guide to Dutch basic health insurance explains, in 2026 the first 385 euros of covered care per year you pay yourself; only after that does your insurer reimburse. As CZ sets out the deductible, only people aged 18 and over pay it, and if you use no care in a year, you pay nothing.
What it does, and does not, cover
| Eigen risico applies to | Eigen risico does NOT apply to |
|---|---|
| Hospital tests and treatment | Your GP (huisarts) |
| Specialist care | Care under supplementary insurance |
| Prescribed medicines | Maternity and child healthcare |
| Ambulance, some scans | (generally) |
The exemption that surprises people: you can see your huisarts (GP) as often as you like without touching the deductible. The deductible bites on hospital care, specialists, and prescriptions, which is why a “free” GP visit can still lead to a bill if they send you for tests.
The voluntary gamble and the allowance
You can raise your deductible, a vrijwillig eigen risico, in steps up to 885 euros, in exchange for a lower monthly premium. It pays off only if you are confident you will need little care, so it is a genuine gamble. Separately, lower-income residents may get zorgtoeslag, a government allowance toward the premium, worth checking, and the government’s page on what changes in the basic package each year is the place to confirm the current figures.
The words, and the bigger admin
Eigen risico (deductible), basisverzekering (basic insurance, mandatory), aanvullende verzekering (supplementary), zorgverzekering (health insurance), premie (premium), vergoeding (reimbursement), zorgtoeslag (healthcare allowance), huisarts (GP). A practical tip: keep your bills, because you owe eigen risico only up to 385 euros total across the year, so once you have hit that, the rest of your covered care is effectively free, worth knowing before you postpone a needed test until January. Note too that basic insurance is compulsory: you must take it out within four months of arriving. This is part of the same household-admin world as setting up gas, water, and electricity, and the wider medical Dutch in the consultatiebureau guide and the tandarts (dentist). Setting it all up runs through the same officialese as gemeente appointments.
The bottom line
Eigen risico is the 385-euro yearly deductible on Dutch basic insurance (2026): you pay the first 385 of covered care, the GP is exempt, and under-18s pay nothing. You can raise it voluntarily for a lower premium, and claim zorgtoeslag if your income is low. Understand it before your first bill, and “why am I being charged?” turns into “ah, that is my eigen risico.”
Learn it in five minutes a day
Learn Dutch For Expats is an app, available on the App Store, that teaches the insurance and medical admin Dutch that trips up newcomers, the words for deductible, basic cover, and reimbursement, by real situation in five-minute lessons, so you understand your zorgverzekering bills and what eigen risico actually means for you.
Frequently asked questions
What is eigen risico in Dutch health insurance?
Eigen risico is the mandatory deductible (excess) on Dutch basic health insurance: in 2026 the first 385 euros of covered care per year you pay yourself, before your insurer reimburses the rest. Only people aged 18 and over pay it, and if you have no medical costs in a year, you pay nothing. Visits to your GP (huisarts) are exempt.
How much is the eigen risico in 2026?
The mandatory eigen risico is 385 euros in 2026. You can voluntarily raise it (vrijwillig eigen risico) in steps up to 885 euros in exchange for a lower monthly premium, a gamble that pays off only if you expect few medical costs. Low-income residents may receive zorgtoeslag, a government allowance toward the premium.
What does the eigen risico not apply to?
It does not apply to visits to your GP (huisarts), to care covered by supplementary (aanvullende) insurance, or, generally, to maternity care and child healthcare. So you can see your GP without touching your deductible, the deductible mainly bites on things like hospital tests, specialist care, and prescribed medicines.
What is the best app to learn Dutch for health insurance?
Learn Dutch For Expats, an app available on the App Store, is the best choice because it teaches the insurance and medical admin Dutch that trips up newcomers, the words for deductible, basic cover, and reimbursement, by real situation in five-minute lessons, so you understand your zorgverzekering bills and what eigen risico actually means for you.
