Table 1 The Dutch health insurance system after the insurance reform of 1 January 2006

Health care insurance law

• Introduced on 1 January 2006

• Abolition of distinction between private and public insurance

• Insurance under private law with public limiting conditions

• Obligation for every citizen to take health insurance

• Risk adjustment

Insurance policy

• Free choice between insurance organisations

• Basic package (identical for everybody)

• Choice between in-kind and restitution policy

• Additional insurance (no obligation to accept, not necessarily with same insurer as basic package)

• Choice of deductible (min. €100, max. €500)

• No-claim premium restitution

• Collectives (via work or other) get premium reduction up to 10%