International or expat insurance

In the event that your health insurance with a Dutch health insurance provider is cancelled, you have to take out supplementary insurance to cover all medical expenses you make abroad.

Although it certainly is an option to obtain health insurance with a local insurance company, it may also be good to know that some Dutch insurance companies have special international or expatriate insurance services. You can often take out a health insurance in combination with other insurance policies as one ‘package deal’. Think of a travel insurance, disability insurance, liability insurance or contents insurance for your home abroad. You are thus insured up to Dutch standards.

With an expat insurance it is usually assumed that the expat eventually returns to their homeland. Expat (health) insurances can therefore often be taken out in advance for a certain period of time.

Note in case of pregnancy

Many health insurance companies with international / expatriate insurances maintain a waiting period for medical expenses related to a pregnancy. This waiting period can be as high as twelve months after obtaining your new health insurance. Get well informed about this beforehand, so you can make an informed decision whether the terms are acceptable to you or not.

The main concerns when obtaining an international / expatriate insurance are

• Is there a maximum of certain medical expenses? For example: hospitalization or medication?
• Can you take out insurance for the entire duration of the stay abroad?
• What are the conditions in terms of a cancellation?
• Are medical expenses made in other countries than the country of residence covered?
• Are medical expenses made in private clinics covered?