Amsterdam to cover maternity care costs for hundreds of families in Zuidoost

About 130 families a year receive little or no maternity care in the Amsterdam district of Zuidoost because they cannot afford the personal contribution. Amsterdam is therefore launching a trial in which families struggling financially will not have to pay the required contribution, the city announced Friday.

“Maternity care is essential for a healthy start for both mother and child,” said Alderman Marjolein Moorman. “Unfortunately, many families still choose not to use it because of the co-payment they are required to make. In my view, this co-payment should be eliminated altogether. Since that has not yet been arranged, we are starting a pilot in Zuidoost to ensure that at least families in vulnerable circumstances can receive maternity care free of charge.”

A press release from the city stated that 26 percent of the families in the area have financial concerns, which is 10 percent higher than the average district in Amsterdam. As a result, the use of maternity care in this district is the lowest in Amsterdam and below the national average.

Amsterdam had already introduced full reimbursement of maternity care under the collective health insurance for low-income residents, which was called the Amsterdam policy. “For those who cannot or do not wish to make use of the collective health insurance, there is now the pilot program offering free maternity care in Zuidoost,” the municipality wrote.

The trial begins on November 1 and will run at least until the end of 2028.