If you've recently moved to the Netherlands and are considering therapy or psychiatric care, navigating the Dutch health insurance system can feel overwhelming. This guide explains what you need to know before booking your first appointment.
The basics: what does Dutch health insurance cover?
Mental health care in the Netherlands is divided into two categories. Basic Mental Healthcare (Basis GGZ, or BGGZ) covers short-term treatment for mild to moderate complaints such as mild anxiety or low mood. Specialized Mental Healthcare (Gespecialiseerde GGZ, or SGGZ) covers more complex or longer-term conditions.
Both are included in the standard Dutch basic health insurance package (basisverzekering), provided you are treated by a recognised provider.
You need a referral from your GP
Before starting treatment — whether for BGGZ or SGGZ — you will need a referral letter (verwijsbrief) from your Dutch general practitioner (huisarts). Your GP will assess your situation and determine which level of care is appropriate. Without this referral, your insurer will not reimburse the costs regardless of the type of treatment.
If you are new to the Netherlands and do not yet have a GP, registering with one should be your first step. Most municipalities have a GP finder (huisartszoeker) to help you locate one nearby.
Contracted vs. non-contracted providers
This is where many expats are caught off guard. Dutch insurers work with two types of providers: contracted (gecontracteerd) and non-contracted (niet-gecontracteerd).
Contracted providers have a direct agreement with your insurer, which means your insurer pays them directly and you typically pay nothing beyond your deductible. Non-contracted providers — like Kühler & Partners — do not have such agreements. This does not mean you are not covered, but it does mean reimbursement works differently.
With a non-contracted provider, you will receive the invoice directly and submit it to your insurer yourself. How much you get back depends on your policy and your insurer — and this is where the numbers can get confusing.
Understanding the tariff system
In the Netherlands, the Dutch Healthcare Authority (Nederlandse Zorgautoriteit, NZa) sets the maximum rate that may be charged for mental health care. This is called the NZa tariff or market rate, and it serves as the official reference point for all GGZ billing.
Insurers who contract providers negotiate a rate that is typically lower than this maximum — on average around 85% of the NZa tariff. This is called the average contracted rate (gemiddeld gecontracteerd tarief), and it differs per insurer.
When your insurer states they reimburse a certain percentage for non-contracted care, that percentage is often applied to their own average contracted rate — not to the full NZa tariff. Since the contracted rate is already lower than the NZa tariff, this means your actual reimbursement can be significantly less than you might expect.
For example: if your insurer reimburses 80% of their average contracted rate, and their contracted rate is itself 85% of the NZa tariff, your effective reimbursement is approximately 68% of the NZa tariff — leaving around 32% at your own expense, on top of your deductible.
Because the contracted rate varies per insurer and the NZa tariff itself varies by treatment type under the ZPM billing system, exact euro amounts are difficult to calculate in advance. The clearest question to ask your insurer is: "What percentage of the NZa tariff (markttarief) will you reimburse for non-contracted SGGZ care?" This gives you a consistent reference point regardless of which treatment codes apply to your situation.
The deductible (eigen risico)
Every Dutch health insurance policy has a mandatory deductible. In 2026, this is €385. This means you pay the first €385 of your healthcare costs each calendar year yourself. Mental health care counts towards this deductible, so if you have not yet used any healthcare this year, expect to cover the first €385 before reimbursement kicks in.
What if you have international health insurance?
If you are an expat with international health insurance rather than a Dutch basisverzekering, the rules are different. Many international policies do cover mental health care in the Netherlands, but conditions vary — some require pre-authorisation, others cap the number of sessions per year or set a maximum reimbursable amount per session.
Check your policy documents or contact your insurer before your first appointment. Ask whether a GP referral is required and whether treatment by a non-contracted provider is covered.
A practical checklist before your first appointment
Register with a Dutch GP if you haven't already
Request a referral for SGGZ or BGGZ
Check your insurance policy type (naturapolis or combinatiepolis)
Ask your insurer specifically: "What percentage of the NZa tariff will you reimburse for non-contracted SGGZ care?" — not just the percentage, but clarify what it is based on
Check whether your deductible has already been met this year
If using international insurance, confirm coverage and any pre-authorisation requirements
We're here to help
At Kühler & Partners International Mental Health, we understand that navigating a new healthcare system in a second language adds an extra layer of stress. Our front office team is happy to answer questions about the referral process and help you understand what to expect financially. Feel free to contact us before your intake — we would rather you have all the information you need upfront.