Make sure you are not over-insured, says consumers group

Tuesday 02 October 2012

Dutch households would be wise to check they are not over-insured, now the special tax on Insurance is going up, the Consumers Association said on Tuesday.

On Monday, the two parties negotiating to form a new coalition announced they are to more than double the tax on Insurance to 21%, which insurers say will cost the average household €100 a year.

‘We are under the impression people in the Netherlands are seriously over-insured, and this is a good opportunity to look critically at the situation,’a spokesman is quoted as saying by news agency ANP.

The insurance association, which opposes the increase, estimates it will cost the average household €100 a year.

Insured twice

The consumers association says many people are insured twice for the same thing or are insured for situations which are not appropriate for their personal situation. Travel insurance, for example, can double up on health insurance provisions.

The only compulsory insurances in the Netherlands are health insurance (which is exempt from the tax), and third party liability insurance for motorists. Mortgage providers also require home owners are insured for the cost of rebuilding their property.

Other popular insurance policies in the Netherlands include funeral insurance, personal liability insurance and pet insurance.

Are you over-insured? Have your say using the comment box below.

© DutchNews.nl

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