Law changes 2019: Health, Care, and Sport

The Dutch government is implementing a number of law changes on January 1st. Below find a summary of changes made in the category Health, Care, and Sport

The deductible for health insurance remains €385 in 2019.

Changes to the mandatory basic health insurance package mean at-risk and overweight patients can get reimbursement for a package of treatments meant to help them develop healthy lifestyle habits. The two-year program focuses on nutrition, exercise, and behavior intervention.

Personal contribution for prescription medicine is now capped at €250.

People in wheelchairs can qualify for wider reimbursement of transportation to medical appointments.

Those who volunteer to help nonprofits, sports clubs and other organizations can now get a tax free allowance of up to €170 per month, maxing out at €1,700 per year. That's a 13% increase on 2018, for an extra €200 annually.

A 4.3 percent increase for those qualifying for health care assistance means single people get a 50 euro bump to a maximum payout of €1,189 next year. Those in partnerships can qualify for a 9 percent increase. The bump of €193 takes the maximum health care benefit for partners to €2,314.

Those with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease can now get some reimbursement for exercise therapy after the first 20 treatments.

Purchases of 1,000mg paracetamol, vitamin D, and calcium will no longer be reimbursed.

Social support act costs are now €17.50 every four weeks, and it is regardless of personal use of the program, personal income or assets.

The long-term care income tax credit falls from 8 percent to 4 percent. Thus, "a smaller part of your savings counts towards your own contribution for long-term care," the government said.