Netherlands Cancels Plan to Lower Healthcare Deductible from €385 to €165

The Dutch government has suspended its proposal to reduce the mandatory healthcare deductible (known as the eigen risico) from €385 to €165 per year. The change was originally scheduled to take effect in 2027 as part of the coalition agreement between the PVV, VVD, NSC, and BBB parties.

The idea behind lowering the deductible was to make healthcare more accessible. Supporters argued that reducing upfront costs would encourage people to seek medical care earlier rather than delaying treatment due to financial concerns. The reform was intended to particularly help people with lower incomes or those who need frequent medical care.

Several factors led to the decision to backtrack the proposal. The plan lost sufficient parliamentary support following recent elections and shifts in the political landscape. The Council of State (Raad van State), the government's main advisory body, issued a strong warning that cutting the deductible could trigger higher insurance premiums, put additional strain on an already pressured healthcare system, and potentially worsen conditions for people with disabilities.

Public opinion also played a role: more than two-thirds of Dutch residents opposed the reduction, primarily due to fears that their monthly premiums would increase to compensate for the lower deductible.

For 2025 and likely the foreseeable future, the healthcare deductible remains at €385 per year. Research had indicated that if the reform went ahead, insurance premiums could have risen by approximately €200 annually, roughly €16 to €17 more per month, to offset the reduced deductible revenue.

This creates a trade-off: people who rarely use healthcare services would likely have paid more overall through higher premiums, while those who frequently need medical care might have benefited from lower out-of-pocket costs at the point of service. The reform would have effectively redistributed healthcare costs in complex ways across the population.

The healthcare deductible in the Netherlands is designed to share costs between individuals and insurers. Under the current system, adults must pay the first €385 of eligible healthcare costs each year out of their own pocket before their basic insurance coverage begins paying. Several studies have shown that lowering the deductible typically increases demand for healthcare services, which can strain medical resources and drive up overall system costs.

Whether this measure is revived, modified, or permanently dropped will depend on the formation of the next Dutch government. If the proposal returns, it may be redesigned to target specific groups, such as people with chronic illnesses or disabilities, rather than applying a blanket reduction for everyone.

Healthcare costs and insurance premiums will remain central issues in upcoming political debates, especially as the Netherlands faces pressure on healthcare budgets and rising medical expenses across the system.