Education

New Dutch insurance law

Starting in January 2006, a new health insurance system will be introduced in the Netherlands. But many of TU Delft’s foreign students are wondering how this new law applies to them.

As of 1 January 2006, all Dutch citizens must pay 1,100 euro per year for basic national insurance. Under this new law, all citizens were legally required to fill in a Zorgtoeslag form, stating their yearly incomes and expenses, and submit this form to the tax authorities before 1 November 2005.

People with low incomes are entitled to compensation of up to 425 euro per year. Most Dutch students have already submitted this form. In general, foreign student are not entitled to receive any compensation from the Dutch government; however, the Immigration & Naturalization Department (IND) still isn’t sure how this new insurance law applies to foreign students.

For those people who have missed the 1 November submission deadline, Zorgtoeslag forms can be sent in late. But how does this new Dutch insurance law apply to foreign students?

According to the VSSD, foreign students are divided into four categories. The first category is foreign students who have part-time jobs; they must pay the basic national insurance policy cost of 1,100 euro per year and are eligible for insurance compensation.

The second category is foreign students under 30 years of age who do not have jobs; they are advised to have IPS or AON insurance policies, which are cheapest insurance policies.

The third category is foreign students insured from their own countries, such as via the European Health Insurance card. They remain covered by their own insurance policies, but if they begin working in the Netherlands, they must pay the 1,100 euro per year for basic national insurance coverage.

The fourth category is foreign students older than 30 years old; they must pay the 1,100 euro basic national insurance fee and are entitled to compensation.

More information is available on the websites listed below; however, these sites are in Dutch only. The TU Delft information desk for foreign students advised me to take out an IPS insurance policy; however, they were unable to tell me if the new Dutch insurance law also applies to people insured by IPS. One does wonder where foreign students can get the correct information about this important issue, if not from their own university?

www.toeslagen.nl

www.denieuwezorgverzekering.nl

As of 1 January 2006, all Dutch citizens must pay 1,100 euro per year for basic national insurance. Under this new law, all citizens were legally required to fill in a Zorgtoeslag form, stating their yearly incomes and expenses, and submit this form to the tax authorities before 1 November 2005.

People with low incomes are entitled to compensation of up to 425 euro per year. Most Dutch students have already submitted this form. In general, foreign student are not entitled to receive any compensation from the Dutch government; however, the Immigration & Naturalization Department (IND) still isn’t sure how this new insurance law applies to foreign students.

For those people who have missed the 1 November submission deadline, Zorgtoeslag forms can be sent in late. But how does this new Dutch insurance law apply to foreign students?

According to the VSSD, foreign students are divided into four categories. The first category is foreign students who have part-time jobs; they must pay the basic national insurance policy cost of 1,100 euro per year and are eligible for insurance compensation.

The second category is foreign students under 30 years of age who do not have jobs; they are advised to have IPS or AON insurance policies, which are cheapest insurance policies.

The third category is foreign students insured from their own countries, such as via the European Health Insurance card. They remain covered by their own insurance policies, but if they begin working in the Netherlands, they must pay the 1,100 euro per year for basic national insurance coverage.

The fourth category is foreign students older than 30 years old; they must pay the 1,100 euro basic national insurance fee and are entitled to compensation.

More information is available on the websites listed below; however, these sites are in Dutch only. The TU Delft information desk for foreign students advised me to take out an IPS insurance policy; however, they were unable to tell me if the new Dutch insurance law also applies to people insured by IPS. One does wonder where foreign students can get the correct information about this important issue, if not from their own university?

www.toeslagen.nl

www.denieuwezorgverzekering.nl

Editor Redactie

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