Schippers says she can ‘do nothing’ about spiralling health insurance costs

Health minister Edith Schippers has insisted she has no powers to intervene in the rising costs of health insurance after the largest insurers signalled price increases of up to 11% next year.

Schippers told NOS the steep rises were ‘a real shame’ but added: ‘Ultimately it’s the health insurers themselves who decide how high their premiums should be.’

Four of the largest insurers – Menzis, OHRA, DSW and CZ – have announced that their charges will rise by at least 8% each year. In the case of Menzis the increase is 11%, to €119 a month.

Schippers had previously said she expected the average rise to be around 3.5%. The excess charge (eigen risico) which is set by the government in its annual budget, has been frozen next year at €385.