DutchNews.nl - Labour calls for income-related health fees

Labour calls for income-related health fees

Tuesday 10 November 2009

Health insurance fees should be income-related and the top-up system for people on low incomes should be scrapped, Labour MPs are set to argue on Tuesday, according to the AD.

At the moment, adults pay around €90 a month for a basic health insurance policy, but people on low incomes can claim a subsidy of up to €57 a month.

But Labour MPs will call for changes in this afternoon's debate with health minister Ab Klink, the paper says. The curernt system involves too many procedures and cash movements because everyone pays the standard fee and then gets an income-dependent payout.

Labour also wants an end to the standard €150 own-risk element in every insurance package because compensation for people with chronic conditions is 'complicated and expensive' to administer, the paper says.

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Readers' comments

"Labour also wants an end to the standard €150 own-risk element in every insurance package".
I support that move !!!

By kwabena | November 10, 2009 10:02 AM

Only €90 for basic health insurance per month? I wonder what health insurance that is because my partner and I are paying a lot more then that per month for each of us.

By sandra | November 10, 2009 10:32 AM

less than that for me with collective discount. Still 150 per person without chronic condition, I get no use of coverage as i dont visit doctors, even for that amount!

By Jon | November 10, 2009 1:32 PM

Finally I have managed to get UK to pay my basic Dutch medical insurance after only two years in Holland paying €130 per month, which I should have not had to (and cannot get back!) and receiving almost nothing in return, except lots of Arrogance and Abuse, and ....

Now I still have to pay the €150 a year before Insurance pays for anything else ... which means I have to pay myself for Prescribed 'pain relief, spasm relief, and illness relief' (Ventolin -Huh! I know! it's to help with breathing ... & lower cost alternative to nitroglycerin for heart patients) for 10 months of the year, and I then have to go to the Shops, and the Chinese Drs, and pay for good proper pain relief, spasm relief, and illness relief.

By Gerard | November 10, 2009 2:21 PM

Hmmm, scrapping the 150 Euro excess will only mean one thing.....higher premiums all round.

By Hypochondriac | November 10, 2009 4:50 PM

Actually, as a self-employed person my healthcare costs are already earnings related, as I have to pay loads of money to the government each year in 'health insurance tax' in addition to the premiums I pay to the health insurer.
So I am directly subsidising those who qualify for subsidy, even though I can barely afford to pay my own premiums. I hope any reduction in administration costs will be reflected in this tax.

By Hypochondriac | November 10, 2009 4:59 PM

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