Politicians must be prepared to limit patient choice if they want to control rising healthcare costs, the chairman of the Dutch health insurance company association ZN says in an interview with website nu.nl.

Without limits, patient fees and premiums will rise and the treatment covered in the basic policy will have to be reduced, André Rouvoet, a former ChristenUnie MP, said.

A week ago, senators failed to approve health minister Edith Schippers’ new legislation which will allow health insurers to reduce patient choice in budget policies. She has pledged to reintroduce the legislation and threatens to bypass parliament if it is not passed a second time.

‘It is up to politicians,’ Rouvoet said. ‘It is important that politicians give health insurers measures to rein in costs.’

Socialist MP Renske Leijten criticised health insurers for putting pressure on parliament. Considerable cost savings could be made on the advertising war between health insurers, she told nu.nl.