Health and healthcare

This is the theme with the most eindtermen (final attainment targets): five. They follow the path of a patient.

This is the most important rule of Dutch healthcare. The huisarts (family doctor) is the gatekeeper: he or she treats what can be treated there, and refers you on if that is needed. You do not go to a hospital specialist by yourself.

So register straight away with a huisarts in your neighbourhood, even if you are not ill. Do not wait until you need one: many practices are full.

Care you may go to yourself

This is eindterm 4.1: for this care you do not need a referral.

Care for which you need a referral

This is eindterm 4.2. Think of a hospital specialist — a cardiologist, a dermatologist, a surgeon — and of much psychological care. The huisarts then writes a verwijsbrief (referral letter). Without that letter, your insurance usually does not pay.

Marieke Schipper · NT2 teacher

Students often ask me: "Why does my huisarts not give antibiotics?" In many countries you get them quickly. Here only if it is really necessary. That is not unwillingness and not cost-cutting — it is policy, because otherwise bacteria become resistant. Feel free to ask for an explanation, that is what the huisarts is there for.

Eindterm 4.3, and the question the exam asks most often. Remember these three situations.

Eindterm 4.4. In the Netherlands a zorgverzekering (health insurance) is compulsory for everyone who lives or works here. You arrange it yourself, within four months after you become liable for insurance. If you do not, you get a fine and in the end you are insured compulsorily.

Eigen risico

For most care from the basisverzekering there is an eigen risico (own risk, or deductible): you pay the first part of the costs in a calendar year yourself. The amount is set by the government every year, so check it.

Two things fall outside it, and that is exactly what the exam likes to ask:

• The huisarts does not fall under the eigen risico. So a visit costs you nothing extra.
• Care for children under 18 also falls outside it. In addition, children are insured with their parents free of charge.

If you have a low income, you can apply for zorgtoeslag (healthcare allowance) at the Belastingdienst (tax administration). That is a monthly contribution towards your premium. You have to apply for it yourself, and report changes in your income yourself.

Marieke Schipper · NT2 teacher

Do not forget to stop your allowance if you start earning more. I have had students who had to pay back thousands of euros after two years. That is one of the most unpleasant things you can do to yourself, and one phone call prevents it.

Eindterm 4.5 is about facilities that are not medical, but that do concern your health. Almost all of these go through your gemeente (municipality), under the Wmo.

You report to the Wmo-loket (Wmo desk) or the sociaal wijkteam (social neighbourhood team) of your gemeente. After that there is a conversation — the "keukentafelgesprek" (kitchen table conversation) — in which they look at what you need.

Almost always as a complaint with a question: someone has a fever, someone falls off a ladder, someone receives a bill. The question is then who you call and in what order.

If you remember only one thing from this theme: huisarts first, 112 only when life is in danger. That already covers most questions.