Why do I have to register with the CAK?
The Netherlands has agreements on health insurance with a number of countries. Do you have a pension or benefit from the Netherlands and live in one of these so-called ‘treaty countries’? If so, the Netherlands remains responsible for your healthcare costs. You then arrange and pay for your health insurance through the CAK. This way, you are always insured for medical care in your country of residence.
Good to know
- Health insurance through the CAK is compulsory, except for in Turkey.
- You pay a healthcare contribution to the Netherlands, not a healthcare premium in your country of residence.
- You are insured for basic care according to the rules in your country of residence.
- Do you live in an EU/EEA Member State, Switzerland or the United Kingdom? If so, you remain insured for basic care in the Netherlands, while also being insured for medically necessary care in Europe.
- You pay for an additional insurance, personal contribution or deductible yourself.
- mbursed and which is not
More information
- Read more about agreements between the EU, the EEA and Switzerland in Regulation (EC) No 883/2004 of the European Parliament
- Read more about the CAK’s implementation tasks in Section 69 of the Zorgverzekeringswet (Health Insurance Act) (Dutch only)
- Read more about the agreements with the UK