Student health insurance 2026
Welcome to the Netherlands! If you’ve come here to study and work, getting your health insurance sorted should be somewhere near the top of your to-do list. The Dutch healthcare system works a bit differently than what you might be used to, but no stress, we’ll walk you through it. On this page, you’ll find everything you need to know: whether or not you actually need insurance, which insurance you need, how the healthcare allowance (zorgtoeslag) works, and how to find the right care when you need it.
Do you need Dutch health insurance?
Whether or not you need Dutch health insurance depends on your residency status and whether you have a job.
Top 5 cheapest health insurances for students (2025)
Below you’ll find the cheapest student health insurance options for 2025, based on both the maximum deductible (€ 885) and the standard deductible (€ 385). From 13 November, this list will be updated with the 2026 prices.
Cheapest with € 885,- deductible
| # | Insurer | Policy | Premium 2025 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |  logo VGZbewuzt zorgverzekering | Basis (Naturapolis) | € 129,90 |
| 2 |  logo united consumers zorgverzekering | UC Bewuste Keuze (Naturapolis) | € 129,90 |
| 2 |  logo unive zorgverzekering | Univé Zorg Select (Naturapolis) | € 129,90 |
| 4 |  logo aevitae zorgverzekering | Natura Select (Budgetpolis) | € 130,40 |
| 5 |  logo cz direct zorgverzekering | CZDirect (Naturapolis) | € 133,00 |
Cheapest with € 385,- deductible
| # | Insurer | Policy | Premium 2025 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |  | Basis (Combinatiepolis) | € 141,40 |
| 2 |  | Basis (Budgetpolis) | € 145,95 |
| 3 |  | Bewuste Keuze (Naturapolis) | € 147,50 |
| 4 | | Natura Select (Budgetpolis) | € 148,00 |
| 5 |  | Zelf Bewust (Budgetpolis) | € 148,95 |
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Healthcare Allowance (Zorgtoeslag)
The ‘zorgtoeslag’ (healthcare allowance) is basically financial help from the Dutch government to cover part of your health insurance costs, a nice little monthly boost. You can get it if:
- You have Dutch basic health insurance (so, if you also work).
- Your 2025 income is below €39,719 per year (this changes yearly).
- You’re 18 or older.
- You’re a Dutch citizen or have a valid residence permit.
Student loans (like DUO) don’t count as income. You can apply on the Dutch Tax Office website (Belastingdienst), even retroactively from last September.
How to apply for healthcare allowance
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Step 1
Check if you're eligible
Not everyone can apply for the healthcare allowance. So first, make sure you meet the conditions: you live in the Netherlands or officially study here, you have Dutch health insurance, are 18 or older and your income is below the yearly threshold.
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Step 2
Get ready to apply
Before you dive into the form, make sure you have everything ready. For example, you’ll need your annual income.
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Step 3
Log in to 'My Benefits'
Head over to ‘My Benefits’. That’s the official site from the Dutch Tax Office. Use your DigiD to log in.
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Step 4
Under 'Healthcare Allowance', select 'Apply'
Once you’re in, go to ‘Healthcare allowance’ (Zorgtoeslag) and click ‘Apply’. You’ll see a few questions, some are already filled out for you. Just double-check that everything’s correct.
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Step 5
Submit application
When you’re done, submit your application. You’ll immediately see a confirmation, and often the allowance amount right away. And you’re done! You’ve officially applied for your healthcare allowance.
Health Insurance Basics
The Dutch healthcare system has two main types of insurance:
Most popular health insurances among students
Curious what your fellow students are choosing? Here are the top picks for 18-24 year olds:
How it works day-to-day
So, what actually happens when you need to see a doctor or get treatment in the Netherlands? Here’s how the Dutch healthcare system works in real life – who to call, what’s covered, and when you’ll need to pay something yourself.
How to get your student health insurance in 6 steps
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Stap 1
Check if insurance is required
Only needed if you’re working (even part-time).
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Stap 2
Think about what you need
Think about your healthcare needs. Do you expect physiotherapy, dental care, or travel coverage? Everyone’s situation is different, so think this through.
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Stap 3
Choose your deductible
The standard deductible is € 385. If you rarely need care, you can raise it to € 885 for a lower monthly premium. Just remember: if something happens, that’s your own tab to cover first.
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Stap 4
Pick a policy type
You can choose between three kinds of policies. With the natura policy (naturapolis) or budget policy (budgetpolis) your choices are limited and some hospitals can be excluded from coverage. The combination policy (combinatiepolis) offers wider coverage. Student insurances are often budget options: cheaper, but with a limited provider network.
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Stap 5
Consider extra coverage
Need physiotherapy or dental care? Add an additional insurance package. This can greatly increase your monthly payment, so make sure to consider whether it’s actually profitable.
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Stap 6
Compare and sign up
Once you know what you want, use our comparison tool to see all insurers and prices in one go. Within minutes, you’ll find the deal that fits your budget and lifestyle. Then simply hit “Request” and boom, you’re insured.
Get the right Dutch health insurance
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Het laatste nieuws
Zorgverzekeraar DSW maakt als eerste aanvullende zorgpremies 2026 bekend
Overstappen.nl zet de nieuwe DSW-premies en belangrijkste veranderingen overzichtelijk voor je op een rij.
Grote verdeeldheid over toekomst zorgverzekering in verkiezingsprogramma’s
De verkiezingsstrijd barst los: welke plannen hebben de politieke partijen voor de zorgverzekering? Overstappen.nl zocht het voor je uit.
DSW houdt zorgpremie in 2026 gelijk op € 158,50 per maand
DSW maakt als eerste de zorgpremie voor 2026 bekend. Lees hier de reden voor het gelijk blijven van de premie en wat je kunt verwachten van andere verzekeraars.
Prinsjesdag 2025: dit zijn de grootste veranderingen voor je zorgverzekering
Dit zijn de belangrijkste veranderingen voor je zorgverzekering in 2026, waaronder de stijging van de zorgpremie en de verhoging van de zorgtoeslag.
Uitgelekte cijfers Prinsjesdag: zorgpremie stijgt met € 40 per jaar
Ook dit jaar zijn de cijfers voor Prinsjesdag weer uitgelekt. Lees hier de belangrijkste wijzigingen voor je zorgverzekering.
Zorgpremie stijgt met € 726,- in twee jaar tijd door afschaffing eigen risico
Overstappen.nl zocht uit hoeveel de zorgpremie de komende jaren stijgt als het eigen risico wordt afgeschaft.
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Sinds 2023 is Jeremy Broekman schadeverzekeringsexpert bij Overstappen.nl. Hij voorziet je van onafhankelijk advies over schadeverzekeringen. Hieronder vallen woonverzekeringen, zorgverzekeringen, reisverzekeringen, fietsverzekeringen, motorverzekeringen en scooterverzekeringen. Jeremy is sinds 2016 werkzaam in de online vergelijkingsbranche. Daarnaast heeft hij bij een grote verzekeraar gewerkt, waardoor hij je kan voorzien van advies over schadeverzekeringen. Ook houdt hij je op de hoogte van de laatste ontwikkelingen in de verzekeringsbranche.
