You only have a few days left to find the best health insurance for 2023. But how do you find the best deal for you and what do you need to think about? Here’s a checklist to help you on your way.

Check what type of healthcare you need

First of all, make a list of the healthcare things you require next year, such as:

1. Family doctor visits
2. Hospital medical check-up
3. Medication
4. One dental check-up and 10 minutes of deep cleaning
5. Eight physiotherapy treatments

Next, determine what is covered by the basis insurance and what is not:

• 1, 2 and 3: covered by basic insurance
• 4 and 5: covered by supplemental insurance

Also determine if there are certain small risks you want to insure, just in case, like dental accidents and medical costs abroad.

Decide whether you can afford a higher deductible

It is a good idea to decide if it wise to increase your own risk payment (deductible) in exchange for a lower insurance premium.

This could be interesting if:

• You expect to have less than € 385 of basic insurance cost next year
• You can miss a total sum of € 885 in case something happens

Compare prices and policy conditions

Now use your list of healthcare needs and deductible preferences to make an online comparison.

Be sure to check out Zorgwijzer’s online comparison tool in English and compare the different elements, such as:

• Price per month
• Coverage
• Customer satisfaction
• Health provider choice

Fiddle around with the filters and try to decide whether your supplemental reimbursements weigh up against the premium you are about to pay each month.

Sometimes it will be cheaper to just go with a basic plan and pay for any extras, like a dental check-up, yourself.

Compare the five cheapest insurers (in Dutch: vergelijk zorgverzekeringen) for the basic plan with a € 385 deductible:

1. ZEKUR: € 122.95
2. VinkVink: € 125.00
3. FBTO: € 126.95
4. Unive, United Consumers, Bewuzt: € 127.45
5. Just: € 127.95

Be aware that ZEKUR has a limited hospital coverage.

Check whether your healthcare provider has a contract

If you do need treatment, will you be happy with just any hospital? Or do you always want to choose your own healthcare provider? If the latter is true, take special attention to the health care provider choice options included with your plan.

Check upfront if your preferred healthcare providers, such as hospitals, pharmacies and health clinics, are within the insurer’s contracted network.

If you don’t want to actively check whether a provider is within the insurer network, you may want to choice a more extensive basic policy with a very broad health choice. This is called a ‘combinatiepolis’ or ‘restitutiepolis’ in Dutch.

Profit from extra services

Health insurance companies go to great lengths to distinguish themselves from each other.

So check whether you can profit from certain extra services like:

• A personal health check up
• A free app that allows you to directly chat with a medical professional
• A lifestyle programme with cashbacks
• Free accident insurance
• Discount at gyms and health clubs

Make the switch

If you take out a new health insurance before January 1, your new insurance company will make sure:

• Your old plan is automatically cancelled
• Your new plan starts on January 1

Moreover, you always have a 14 day reflection period in which you can cancel your decision for free and at no cost.

So, it’s time to make the switch!

Check out Zorgwijzer for the best deals