Deductible: why do we pay it and why is it going up again?

Published 2026-11-01

Many people in the Netherlands pay an amount for healthcare themselves every year. This amount is called the deductible (eigen risico). It is a fixed part of the costs that you bear yourself before your health insurance pays the rest. Since 2008, the deductible has been mandatory for everyone who has basic health insurance. The deductible exists because the government wants people to think about the healthcare they use, and because this helps keep the costs of health insurance lower.

The amount of the deductible has often changed in recent years. In 2025, the deductible is 385 euros. The amount can go up or down, depending on the decisions of the government and politics. An important reason for an increase is that healthcare costs in the Netherlands are growing. There are more and more elderly people, and new treatments and medicines are often expensive. When the costs of healthcare rise, the deductible can also rise, because insurers have to find the money in another way.

Many people wonder whether the deductible is fair. Some people feel that it is a heavy burden, especially for people with a low income or with a chronic illness. Others believe that the deductible helps to prevent unnecessary healthcare. It is important to know that not all care falls under the deductible. GP visits, pregnancy care and care for children under eighteen, for example, usually do not fall under the deductible.

The discussion about the deductible therefore continues. For Dutch health insurance policyholders, it is good to check how much deductible they must pay and which care it applies to. Anyone who wants to know what the deductible will be for the coming year can find this on the website of the Dutch central government (Rijksoverheid) or from their health insurer.

Sources: Head Topics

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