Eyelid lifts, breast implants back in basic health insurance package

A number of cosmetic surgery procedures are being put back into the basic health insurance package but will only be covered if there is real medical need, health minister Edith Schippers announced on Friday.

Eyelid lifts, circumcision and breast implants for transgenders and women without breasts will be carried out if medically necessary, Schippers said.

The treatments were dropped from the basic health insurance package because of abuse. Schippers said she has made agreements with doctors and insurers to make sure this does not happen again.

Ministers have also decided that health insurance companies must publish their new premiums a week earlier than the current deadline of November 19. This is to give the tax office more time to determine the correct health benefits.

In addition, the change will give people more time to make up their mind whether or not to switch insurer during the year-end window. Last year, 1.1 million people made the change.

The make-up of the basic health package is determined by the government and insurance companies are supposed to compete purely on price.