Health insurance companies have joined in the criticism of the government’s plans to end the policy of giving personal healthcare budgets to thousands of people to help them live independently at home.

The plans are vague and patient unfriendly, the insurance firms said on Wednesday, ahead of a parliamentary debate on the proposals
Reforms to the personal healthcare budget system mean 117,000 elderly and handicapped people will lose funding to buy care services. Only people who would otherwise be in an institution will still be able to choose their care.

Local councils
The government says people will still get the same level of help, but that it will be provided and paid for directly by health insurance companies and local authorities.
However, insurers say the criteria that local healthcare centres will use in assessing claims are unclear and will lead to legal claims. The rules themselves are complicated and will lead to unnecessary bureaucracy.
Opposition MPs are also angry about the proposals. ‘A bureaucratic monster has been born,’ said ChristenUnie MP Esme Wiegman. ‘And the plan is not going to save any money either.’
Junior health minister Marlies Veldhuijzen van Zanten said earlier the cuts would save €900m from the healthcare budget but has now revised this down to €700m – about what the alternative system will cost.