How much does it cost to see a doctor in the Netherlands?
Doctor's appointments
A GP visit in the Netherlands costs around €30. Your GP is the only person who can refer you for specialised care, for example to go to the hospital. They can also give you basic pharmacy prescriptions.
The Cost of Basic Healthcare Coverage in The Netherlands
As of 2021, the average basic premium for health insurance was about 120 euros per month. While premiums may change slightly depending on the insurance you choose, the basic coverage doesn't range far from that average.
Do keep in mind that medical services (both regular and emergency) are not provided free of charge in the Netherlands. We recommend checking your own health insurance and/or travel insurance before you head to our country.
Doctor's Appointments in NL
To make an appointment with your doctor, you must call in, and arrange an appointment. Unless the doctor has been called out on an emergency, you will probably not have to wait more than 15 minutes to see them when you arrive for your appointment.
Health insurance in the Netherlands is mandatory, and the nation's healthcare is covered by two statutory forms of insurance: Zorgverzekeringswet (Zvw), often called "basic insurance', covers common medical care. Wet langdurige zorg (Wlz) covers long-term nursing and care.
Everyone who lives or works in the Netherlands is legally obliged to take out standard health insurance to cover the cost of, for example, consulting a general practitioner, hospital treatment and prescription medication.
Average cost of healthcare in the Netherlands
The basic plan will cost € 100-120 out of pocket. If you're employed, your employer will pay a small percentage towards medical coverage as well. Children under the age of 18 don't pay for health insurance.
Travel insurance is mandatory if you need a Schengen Visa for the Netherlands. If you don't need a visa, travel insurance is optional but strongly recommended as medical costs can be high for foreigners, especially as you will need to pay for any prescriptions.
The Netherlands has a high cost of living, which includes everything from accommodation, groceries, and services. On average, the cost of living in the Netherlands is 10.7% higher than in the UK. Owning a car is particularly expensive, with high road tax and expensive repair costs.
You cannot get prescription medicines without a prescription. A legal medicine supplier will never give you prescription medicines if you do not have a prescription from a Doctor. Doctors, including online doctors, may only prescribe you medicines if they meet certain conditions.
Do they have urgent care in the Netherlands?
Urgent medical care
The GP's office is only available during working hours. Outside working hours you can contact an urgent care centre (in Dutch: huisartsenpost). For urgent medical care, such as a dislocated shoulder, you can also directly go straight to a hospital's emergency room (ER) (in Dutch: spoedeisende hulp).
Even if you do not speak the Dutch language but you do speak the English language, you can contact Polikliniek de Blaak in The Netherlands. Many of our doctors and practitioners can speak English fairly good.
Visiting a doctor
Most GPs in the Amsterdam Area speak English very well, and there are several doctors throughout the city that specialise in treating expats.
Emergency services (including transportation by ambulance) are not free and you will be billed for any services rendered to you. The Netherlands Association of Hospitals has compiled a list of all Dutch hospitals, which can be searched by city.
In the Netherlands you have a right to health care, even if you do don't have a residence permit, therefore you may certainly make an appointment to see a doctor.
What happens if you need Dutch health care and you're not insured? A fine is not the only negative consequence of not taking out Dutch health insurance. If you need health care and you do not own health care insurance, you will have to pay for the medical costs yourself.
Introduction. The Dutch healthcare system ranks 3rd in the 2022 World Index of Healthcare Innovation, with an overall score of 59.86, behind only Switzerland (1st, 66.49) and Ireland (2nd, 60.04). The Netherlands ranked 2nd in 2021, and 3rd in 2020.
Because someone has to pay the cleaner. Public toilets are seen as a service, not a right. There are some very public toilets in the cities, mostly for men but increasingly also for women that you don't have to pay for.
It is essential to know that there's nothing for free in the Netherlands; everything comes with a cost. If you want to use the toilet, pay for it; if you want to use the restroom, it's normal to pay.
Did you know that in Amsterdam there are more than 500 taps with free drinking water? The taps are available 24 hours a day. Grab a bottle and fill it up! You can find the taps in the Vondelpark, in the Museum Quarter, and in many other places throughout the city.
How to see a doctor in Netherlands?
Making an appointment with doctors in the Netherlands
You must make an appointment (afspraak) to see a doctor in the Netherlands. You can make appointments online or over the phone. Waiting times are reasonable, and you should be able to see your doctor the same day or at worst within 2-3 days of making an appointment.
These reasonable wait times are called Treeknormen in Dutch. The norm for a first appointment at the clinic or diagnostics is 4 weeks. For treatment, the norms allow for a wait time of 7 weeks. If treatment or surgery can only be provided by a small number of specialists, your wait time may be longer.
Foreigners in the Netherlands can rest assured that world-class hospitals and medical care are easily accessible across the country. Though only half the size of the U.S. state of South Carolina, the Netherlands is home to seven hospitals that rank within the top 130 in Newsweek's The World's Best Hospitals in 2022.
The low-income threshold represents a fixed purchasing power amount and is adjusted annually for price developments. In 2019, the threshold for a single person was 1,090 euros net per month. For a couple without children it was 1,530 euros, and for a couple with two children under 18 years old 2,080 euros.
You must take out Dutch health insurance within four months of your permanent residence permit coming into force. Your health insurance policy must be effective from the date your residence permit comes into force. If the insurance commences with retroactive effect, you will have to pay the premium retroactively.
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