An increasing number of people in the Netherlands are dropping their supplementary health insurance, according to research by comparison website Zorgwijzer.

The figures show just three in five policyholders have opted for additional cover during the current season to switch insurance, down from 72% last year. As a result, a growing share of the population will rely solely on the basic health insurance package in 2026.

Zorgwijzer described the drop as striking. “Many people are saving on premiums but underestimate the financial risks,” platform health insurance expert Bart Koenraadt said.

The basic insurance package, which is determined by the government, does not fully cover all forms of care.

Emergency treatment abroad, for example, is reimbursed only at Dutch rates. In countries such as Spain and Turkey, as well as in popular winter sports destinations, treatment in private clinics is often far more expensive.

“A relatively simple leg fracture can easily cost €30,000 in Spain, compared with about €5,000 in the Netherlands,” Koenraadt said. “That difference is paid by the patient unless they have supplementary cover.”

Repatriation costs and emergency dental treatment after an accident are also rarely covered by the basic package and can quickly run into thousands of euros.

Zorgwijzer says many of the biggest risks can be insured against at relatively low cost. Cover for care abroad, repatriation and emergency dental treatment is now included as standard in most supplementary policies, Koenraadt said, often for less than €2 a month in the cheapest packages.

People have until 31 December to switch health insurers. Anyone taking out a new policy before that date does not need to cancel their existing insurance themselves, as this is handled automatically. Their new policy takes effect on 1 January.