It is important to understand how health insurance works during and after your studies in the Netherlands, as the rules differ for EU and non-EU students and depend on whether you are working.
Non-EU Students
As a non-EU student at Tio, you are automatically insured through AON student insurance during your studies. This insurance is arranged by Tio and covers your medical costs while you are studying in the Netherlands. However, this insurance is specifically intended for study purposes and is no longer valid once you start working.
If you take on a job, a paid internship, or remain in the Netherlands after graduation to work, you are legally required to switch to Dutch basic health insurance (basisverzekering) from your first working day. This means that you must cancel your AON insurance and arrange a Dutch policy yourself. You can request cancellation of your AON insurance by contacting Tio via internationaloffice@tio.nl. If you do not switch in time, you may face fines and retroactive payments.
The Dutch basic health insurance is the standard healthcare system in the Netherlands. It is mandatory for anyone who lives or works in the country and covers essential healthcare such as visits to a general practitioner, hospital care, medication, and emergency treatment. The government determines the coverage, meaning that all insurers offer the same basic package, although premiums and conditions may differ.
Because there are many insurance providers, it is recommended to compare options before choosing a policy. You can do this via websites such as www.zorgkiezer.nl, www.independer.nl, or www.geld.nl, where policies can be compared based on price and coverage.
EU/EEA Students
If you are an EU/EEA student and you are in the Netherlands for study purposes only, you can usually use your European Health Insurance Card (EHIC). This card gives you access to medically necessary healthcare in the Netherlands under the same conditions as Dutch residents.
However, it is important to understand that the EHIC has limitations. It is only valid as long as you are not working in the Netherlands. Once you start working, you are also required to take out Dutch basic health insurance.
In addition, the EHIC does not always fully cover all treatments. Some types of care that are commonly offered by healthcare providers in the Netherlands may not be (fully) reimbursed by your home country insurance. This means you may have to pay the costs yourself first and request reimbursement afterwards, or you may not be reimbursed at all.
To avoid unexpected costs and misunderstandings, it is very important to always check with your health insurance provider in your home country before receiving medical treatment in the Netherlands. This allows you to confirm exactly what is covered and under which conditions. If your coverage is limited, you may want to consider arranging additional private insurance.