MPs pass new health insurance plan

Health care insurance companies have been afforded a new policy option in which they only pay for specialist care or psychologists which are under contract with them. This policy can be cheaper for insurers, and will be introduced in 2016. This Cabinet plan received majority votes from Parliament today. The plan allows people to still be able to choose basic care items such as the dentist, general practitioner and physiotherapist. The current ruling obligates insurers to insure a large part of the costs for a treatment from a care provider with which they do not have a contract. Minister Edith Schippers of Health calls this "the leak in the system." She is supported in this by the VVD, PvdA, D66, ChristenUnie and SGP. Because insurers choose which care providers to contract, opposing parties believe that this creates a limit to peoples' choices. The supporters say that the freedom of choice will remain, and a cheaper policy will become available to those who want it. Schippers adds that people can now see what they choose. If, for example, the hospital where they receive treatment is in a certain healthcare insurer's package.