Frequently asked questions
Last modified: 14 March 2023
On this page you will find some common questions related to treatment in the Netherlands or in another EU country.
An EHIC only entitles you to necessary medical care. This medical care must be part of the Dutch basic health insurance package (the statutory healthcare insurance). You show your EHIC to the doctor or the hospital. They will declare the costs at healthcare insurer Zilveren Kruis.
Planned treatment in the Netherlands
Would you like to come to the Netherlands for a treatment? Then you may need permission from your own healthcare insurance institution first. This institution should be able to tell you more about this.
More information
Would you like to know more about healthcare in the Netherlands? Please contact healthcare insurer Zilveren Kruis on +31 33 445 6870 or at [email protected].
If you have paid your medical bill yourself, you can submit it for reimbursement at your own healthcare insurer. They will determine the amount reimbursed to you.
Send your bill to Zilveren Kruis
You may also send your bill to healthcare insurer Zilveren Kruis. They will ensure that you receive a reimbursement. However, Zilveren Kruis do not cover expenses for treatment that is not part of the Dutch basic health insurance package.
For more information on healthcare in the Netherlands, please contact Zilveren Kruis on +31 445 686870 or at [email protected].
Under European regulations, pregnancy and childbirth care are covered by the EHIC. But not if you plan to come to the Netherlands with the purpose to give birth to your child.
For more information on healthcare in the Netherlands, please contact Zilveren Kruis on +31 33 445 6870 or at [email protected].
Use your EHIC
With your EHIC you are entitled to healthcare that is covered by Dutch statutory health insurance. You may need a referral from another doctor first. According to European Regulation 883/2004, the EHIC only applies if healthcare is necessary. This is also the case with healthcare related to a chronic or existing disease.
Healthcare insurer Zilveren Kruis provides information to foreigners who stay temporarily in the Netherlands. For more information on healthcare in the Netherlands, please contact Zilveren Kruis on +31 445 686870 or at [email protected].
Directive on the application of patients’ rights in cross-border healthcare (2011/24/EU)
According to the directive, your own healthcare insurer can also reimburse healthcare costs in the Netherlands. In that case you first have to pay the amount yourself. Send the bill to your own healthcare insurer after returning home. They will determine whether you receive a reimbursement.
The reimbursement will be up to the amount that such care would have cost if you had been treated in your own country. If the costs are higher, you usually pay the difference yourself.
Pharmacies must accept prescriptions from other EU countries if these prescriptions meet certain conditions. These conditions can be found on our website. See page ‘More about treatment in another EU country', paragraph ‘Prescriptions from another EU country’.
Does the prescription not meet these conditions? Ask your doctor for a new prescription with the right details.
Does your prescription meet the conditions and do you deal with a Dutch pharmacy? Tell the employee about the information on our website about prescriptions from other EU countries. This information can be found on page 'Information for healthcare providers', paragraph 'Prescriptions from another EU country'.
Does the Dutch pharmacy still refuse to accept your prescription? You can file a complaint at the National Healthcare Report Centre (Landelijk Meldpunt Zorg).
The rates are listed on the website of the Dutch Healthcare Authority (NZa). For more information, you can send an email to [email protected].
The page ‘How is healthcare organised in the Netherlands?’ contains more information on the Dutch healthcare system.
Ask for information at the National Contact Point for cross-border healthcare of the country where you like to be treated. A list of the National Contact Points is available on page ‘Other National Contact Points’.
For more information, see page ‘More about treatment in another EU country’.
Your healthcare insurer may refuse to cover treatment in another EU country. But this depends on different factors, such as the conditions in your insurance policy.
Not agreeing with the refusal
Ask your healthcare insurance provider to review your request again. If you disagree with the healthcare insurer’s answer, please contact the Dutch Foundation for Health Insurances Complaints and Disputes (SKGZ). You can also contact SKGZ on +31 88 900 6900, at [email protected], and at the following address:
Postbus 291
3700 AG Zeist
The Netherlands
No, that’s not possible. We are not allowed to interfere with disputes on medical treatment in other EU countries.
Please contact the NCP of the country you wish to go to. This NCP can tell you what to do if you have a problem with your doctor or the hospital. A list of the National Contact Points is available on page ‘Other National Contact Points’.
Does the National Contact Point have information on the quality of healthcare in other EU countries?
No, we don't have that kind of information. The NCP does not assess the quality of this care itself. That’s what the government of the country where you want to be treated does.
Please contact the National Contact Point for cross-border care of the country concerned. A list of the National Contactpoints is available on page ‘Other National Contact Points’.
In fact, you are responsible for finding out whether the treatment you choose is of good quality. Your healthcare insurer may also demand that the treatment meets certain quality requirements as a condition to reimburse the costs. However, this is a matter for the healthcare insurer and the insured person; the NCP is not involved.
The National Contact Point (NCP) does not issue S1/E121 forms. Please contact the CAK. For information on how to apply, see page Registering with the CAK on the CAK website.
The National Contact Point (NCP) does not issue S1/E106 forms. Please contact your own healthcare insurer.
The National Contact Point (NCP) does not issue A1 forms. Please contact the Sociale Verzekeringsbank (SVB). For more information, see the SVB website.
The National Contact Point (NCP) does not provide this kind of information. It only provides general information on planned healthcare in the EU.
You may be registered with the CAK as being entitled to care under international regulations. If this is the case, please contact the CAK .
