No increase in healthcare deductibles next year; insurance premiums up €10

The VVD, CDA, D66 and ChristenUnie decided not to increase healthcare own-risk deductibles next year, government formation mediator Gerrit Zalm announced in a letter sent at the insistence of the Tweede Kamer. To compensate for that, health insurance premiums will increase by an extra 10 euros per year, RTL Nieuws reports.

The national budget for 2018 presented on Tuesday showed that healthcare deductibles will increase from 385 to 400 euros. The four parties currently negotiating forming the new Dutch government together, is now canceling that increase.

Not increasing the healthcare deductibles will cost 150 million euros annually. To compensate for that, health insurance premiums must increase. The government already took into account a 6 euros per month increase on health insurance premiums. Because there is no increase in deductibles, health insurance premiums will increase by an extra 80 cents per month - so €6.80 instead of €6. That amounts to around 10 euros extra per year, according to the broadcaster.

These figures are based on estimates from Health Minister Edith Schippers. The actual premium increases are determined by the health insurers.