A Dictionary of Dutchness

AWBZ

The AWBZ (Algemene wet bijzondere ziektekosten) is a collective health insurance policy administered by the government to pay for hard-to-insure treatment and services such as nursing homes and residential care for disabled people. In 2009, the AWBZ had a budget of €22bn and the government decided to restrict spending on extra services – such as help with shopping – to incapacitated people because costs were spiralling out of control.