Hello,
I wonder is there any significant difference between IPS or AON student insurances which cost only 400 euro per year and basic public health insurance which starts from 1200 euro per year. I understand that you can apply for such a cheap student insurance only if you don't work, but is there a difference in attitude you will receive from clinics and home doctors? Because after my first year in NL I d like to pay more if it can improve overall service at home doctors and hospitals.
Also I noticed that with some insurance providers you can't choose a place where you will receive medical help. Does it improve anything when you are limited with the list of doctors who partner with insurance company?
If you are on a low or unwaged, you would receive zorgtoeslag (a rebate) of around 70 euros per month, which would reduce the cost of Dutch basic insurance to around 30 per month (the same as your student policy). Of course, it wouldn't cover other things that are included in your student policy, like theft insurance. The difference is this: student insurance is a Private policy. It's meant to cover you for emergencies. If it's not an emergency, the insurer can refuse to pay out (and they'll look for a way!),
and you are left with the cost.
For example, should you have a small accident and your GP recommends you see a physiotherapist, you might not be covered for those costs, whereas under the Dutch insurance, your treatment and medication for just about everything is guarenteed. With a normal Dutch insurance, you just show your card from your health insurer, and you don't have to worry about money; they will bill the insurer for everything direct. If you can't provide this card (with private insurance), the hospital requires you to pay upfront and claim the money back from your insurer - I don't know if this is the case with an AON or IPS card (but could you afford that? Only you know that answer)
Do you have pre-existing health conditions or regular medication? Guess which policy has to pay out by law, and which policy will probably refuse. The cheapest Dutch policies do have terms (contracts with) about which hospitals you can receive treatment at. Also, some of the really cheap Dutch policies won't even let you visit a regular pharmacy/apotheek to collect medication and you have to request it online. Can you afford to wait for the postman to deliver your medication if you're in pain or need it urgenly? Again, thats your choice to make - you know how healthy you are.
Hi, I have used AON insurance for almost four years and I can tell you a few things. 1) it is very comprehensive and it is NOT for emergencies. If you have the ICS complete package, it covers physiotherapy etc. Plz check the detailed terms and conditions and it is no less than the basic packages offered by Dutch health care insurance companies. 2) The biggest problem with using it is that you have to pay upfront for GP and medicines but NOT in hospitals. 3) The hospital will directly send the bill to them and I never had any problems. 4)The coverage is pretty extensive. I had caesarean birth, used the Kraamzorg and stayed in hospital for 5 extra days and did not pay a cent myself. 5) The complete package includes physiotherapy sessions to a maximum of 12 and I think the basic packages by Dutch heath insurance companies also offer more or less the same. I had a good experience with it and the only problem was the payment to GP and for medicines which I had to do upfront. But if you are a healthy person and do not generally need to see doctors much then that should not be a big problem.
