If you are a citizen of one of the European Union countries and you will stay temporarily, you need to apply for the EU Health Insurance Card (EHIC) free of charge in your own country, provided you are not privately insured. EHIC is a card which gives you access to medically necessary state-provided healthcare under the same conditions and same costs as people insured in the Netherlands.
Important to note is that the European Health Insurance Card:
- Is not an alternative to travel insurance. EHIC does not cover any private healthcare or costs such as a return flight to your home country or lost/stolen property.
- Does not guarantee free services. As each country’s healthcare system is different services that cost nothing at home might not be free in another country.
- Might not be valid for the whole duration of your stay (please check this with your insurance provider).
We therefore strongly advise you to check carefully whether additional health insurance like the Aon Student Insurance is necessary to ensure complete coverage of health-related costs.
For more information on the European Health Insurance Card, please visit the website of the European Commission below.
More about the EU Health Insurance Card
How to use the EU Health Insurance Card
Medical bills
Every time you visit your general practitioner or the pharmacy, bring your EU Health Insurance Card with you. General practitioners charge about €30-€50 for a visit. Therefore, do not forget to pay for the consultation and ask for proof of payment. You will have to pay in advance and ask your insurance for reimbursement of the costs.
To claim your reimbursement, please contact the Zilveren Kruis office in the Netherlands.
View contact details Zilveren Kruis
If you were unable to submit a claim for reimbursement during your stay, contact your national health insurance provider once you return home. Your national health insurer will contact Zilveren Kruis. You are entitled to reimbursement on the basis of the tariffs Zilveren Kruis normally would have paid to the healthcare provider under the Dutch legislation.