Switching season
Switching health insurance when waits are long: how it works
Dutch insurers differ not only in premium but also in which hospitals and clinics they contract — and how good their waitlist mediation is. If you regularly face waitlists, switching at year-end can genuinely pay off.
Why your insurer matters for your waiting time
A hospital’s waiting time is the same for everyone, but what gets reimbursed is not. Each insurer contracts its own selection of hospitals and clinics. Independent clinics in particular — often the ones with the shortest waits — are not (fully) contracted by every insurer. Choose a policy that covers the fast providers in your region and you have more choice after a referral, without co-payments. The quality of waitlist mediation also differs per insurer.
Long waiting time? Compare health insurance
A different insurer may offer shorter wait times or better coverage. Compare now and discover your options.
Compare insurersThe switching calendar
You can switch once a year, around the turn of the year:
| When | What |
|---|---|
| By 12 November | Insurers publish their premiums and policies for the new year |
| Before 1 January | Cancel your old policy (done automatically if you switch via a comparison site) |
| Before 1 February | Take out the new policy — it then applies retroactively from 1 January |
Basic insurance has mandatory acceptance: every insurer must accept you, regardless of your health. Supplementary insurance may involve medical selection.
How to choose with waiting times in mind
- 1
Determine what care you expect
On a waitlist or expecting treatment? Then the contracted providers for that specialty matter most.
- 2
Check which providers are contracted
See per insurer whether the hospitals and (fast) clinics in your region are covered — this site shows coverage per insurer next to the waiting time.
- 3
Compare premium and policy terms
Mind natura versus restitutie policies: that determines how much non-contracted care is reimbursed.
- 4
Switch before 1 January
The new insurer usually handles the cancellation for you. Reconsider your supplementary insurance separately.
Check the waiting times and coverage first
See per specialty which hospital is fastest — and which insurers cover it:
Frequently asked questions
- Can I switch year-round?
- Generally no — switching happens around the turn of the year (cancel before 1 January, new policy before 1 February). Exceptions exist, e.g. when your policy terms change mid-year.
- Can my new insurer refuse me?
- Not for basic insurance: acceptance is mandatory. For supplementary insurance an insurer may apply conditions or medical selection.
- I’m under treatment — can I still switch?
- Yes. Ongoing treatments fall under the duty of care; your new insurer takes over reimbursement. Do check that your provider is contracted by the new insurer, or part may be for your own account.
- What’s the difference between natura and restitutie?
- A natura policy fully covers contracted care and partially covers non-contracted care. A restitutie policy (largely) covers non-contracted care too — maximum freedom of choice, but pricier.
- Does switching help if I’m on a waitlist right now?
- Not immediately — a switch takes effect on 1 January. For now: ask your current insurer for waitlist mediation, which is free and works right away.