1,4 million people in the Netherlands switched health insurers for 2023
By Victoria Séveno
A whopping 1,4 million people in the Netherlands switched health insurance companies at the end of 2022 - the highest number recorded since the introduction of the current healthcare system in 2006.
High premiums push customers to swap insurance plans or companies
Last year on Prinsjesdag, the Dutch government announced that the price of health insurance would increase by around 11 euros a month from January. While companies like DSW stayed below the guideline set out in the government’s budget, some people in the Netherlands have seen their insurance premiums rise even more significantly.
Record-breaking number of people switch to new insurance company
Preliminary figures published by Zorgverzekeraars Nederland, an umbrella organisation representing 11 Dutch health insurance companies, have revealed that in the lead-up to the deadline of December 31, a whopping 1,4 million people in the Netherlands switched insurance companies, amounting to around 8 percent of the population.
This marks a significant increase compared to previous years, when the total was between 6 and 7 percent. In fact, knowledge centre Vetkis reports that the figure for 2022 is likely to rise to between 8,1 and 8,5 percent, as some customers had until the end of January to sign up for a new plan.
According to Zorgverzekeraars Nederland, 8 percent already marks the highest proportion of the population to switch insurers since the introduction of the current healthcare system in 2006, setting a new national record.
Thumb: Martin Bergsma via Shutterstock.com.
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Victoria grew up in Amsterdam, before moving to the UK to study English and Related Literature at the University of York and completing her NCTJ course at the Press Association in London. She has a love for all things movies, animals, and food. Read more