Do you live, work, study or travel abroad?
Your healthcare insurance abroad.
Do you live in the Netherlands but do you work in Germany or are you going to Spain to study for a year? Then you might want to check what you should do about your healthcare insurance. Find out in a few easy steps if you can keep it or if you have terminate it.
Are you going to live, work or study abroad?
What is your situation?
I live and work abroad
You lose your right to Dutch healthcare insurance. You have to cancel your insurance with us and take out insurance in the country where you work and live.
When you inform us of your cancellation within 1 month, we will cancel your insurance per the date you indicate.
When you inform us of your cancellation after 1 month, we will cancel your insurance per the date we receive your request.
I live abroad but receive a Dutch income
It is mandatory for you to have a Dutch healthcare insurance. You can take this out at Zilveren Kruis.
Has your employment in the Netherlands ended?
Or has your Dutch income ended, but are you continuing to live abroad? Then your entitlement to Dutch healthcare will end. You need to cancel your healthcare insurance with us. Take out insurance in the country where you live and work.
You and possible family members can get medical care in your country of residence at the expense of the Netherlands. For this purpose you can request the treaty form S1 with us. With this form you can register with an insurer in your country of residence.
Have you received a message indicating that we have doubts about your health insurance entitlement?
We may need proof of insurance from you. Otherwise, we will terminate your health insurance.
Learn more about doubts regarding your entitlement to health insurance. Information available in Dutch only.
I live abroad without an income
You lose your right to Dutch healthcare insurance. You need to cancel your insurance with us. Take out insurance in the country where you live.
Are you moving to a treaty country? Sign yourself and any co-insured family members up at the CAK.
I live abroad and collect ZW or WW
You are entitled to Dutch healthcare as long as your social benefit is still active.
As soon as your social benefit stops you need to cancel your healthcare insurance with us. Take out insurance in your country of residence.
I live abroad and collect a pension or social benefits
You will lose your right to Dutch healthcare insurance. You need to cancel your healthcare insurance with us. Take out insurance in your country of residence.
Will one of the family members continue to work in the Netherlands and are you moving to a treaty country? The CAK will know where you need to take out insurance.
I am not sure which situation applies to me
We can determine your right to Dutch healhcare insurance for your situation. Please download the response form Staying abroad (pdf) and fill it out.
I live and work abroad
You will lose your right to Dutch healthcare insurance. You need to cancel your healthcare insurance with us. Take out insurance in the country where you live and work.
I am posted abroad
We can't determine if you still need to be insured in the Netherlands, please contact the Sociale Verzekeringsbank about the status of your insurance and that of your family members. If you continue to be insured under the Wlz scheme in the Netherlands, it is mandatory to have health insurance in the Netherlands. If not, then you have to take out health insurance in the country where you work.
I work abroad and live in the Netherlands
You will lose your right to Dutch healthcare insurance. You need to cancel your healthcare insurance with us. Please cancel in Mijn Zilveren Kruis (only available in Dutch). Take out insurance in the country where you work. Ask them about coverage in the Netherlands.
I am not sure which situation applies to me
We can determine your right to Dutch healhcare insurance for your situation. Please download the response form Staying abroad (pdf) and fill it out.
I'm going backpacking or travelling without a paid job abroad
You are still entitled to Dutch healthcare insurance. This also applies if you are backpacking or travelling. It might be wise to choose an additional travel insurance.
Please note: basic insurance in the Netherlands only covers medical costs abroad up to the maximum Dutch reimbursement. When you are involved in an accident in a country where care is more expensive it is possible that you have to pay considerable extra costs. Are you staying abroad for no more than 1 year, then we will cover urgent medical care bills abroad in full starting from our lowest supplementary insurance.
Healthcare benefits
As you are still entitled to Dutch healthcare insurance, you also continue to be entitled to healthcare benefits (only available in Dutch).
Proof of insurance
Check which proof of insurance (only available in Dutch) you need in the country you are travelling to. Do you need proof of insurance in English because you will attend a university? You can contact us via chat, phone or e-mail to ask for this document.
Vaccinations
Before you leave, please check if you need any vaccinations in the country you are travelling to at Landelijk Coordinatiecentrum Reizigersvaccinaties.
We reimburse vaccinations (pdf) out of supplementary insurance, from the 1 star package and upwards, but only if you choose a contracted care provider.
I have a paid job abroad
You need to cancel your healthcare insurance with us. If you are employed abroad and paying income tax, you will lose your right to Dutch basic healthcare insurance. Income out of an internship is also considered income from employment.
Are you in doubt about your situation? Contact the Sociale Verzekeringsbank (SVB). Via a so-called Wlz Insurance position they can determine if you will lose your right to Dutch healthcare insurance or not.
Healthcare benefits
Don't forget to stop healthcare benefits at the Belastingdienst if you lose your right to Dutch healthcare insurance. You will need to do this yourself.
Vaccinations
Before you leave, please check if you need any vaccinations in the country you are travelling to at Landelijk Coordinatiecentrum Reizigersvaccinaties.
We reimburse vaccinations (pdf) out of supplementary insurance, from the 1 star package and upwards, but only if you choose for a contracted care provider.