The coverage offered by 25% of top-up health insurance policies and 40% of dental polices has been cut for 2012, even though prices have risen, according to policy comparison website Verzekeringssite.nl.

For example, some insurers, such as CZDirect and Unive have cut the coverage for their dental policies to 80% and 75% of the total treatment cost, the website says.
Entitlement to physiotherapy has also been reduced in 30% of policies, the website says. One example is Menzis Extra Verzorgd 1, which paid for 12 sessions this year but will only cover seven in 2012.
The government determines the make-up of the basic healthcare package, freeing insurance companies to put together top-up policies to cover extra treatment.
Basic health insurance currently costs an average of €1,222 per person per year but will rise by around €30 a year in 2012. The minimum own risk element will also rise next year, from €170 to €220.