When accepting the challenge to live and work abroad for a certain period of time, there is a large number of preparatory work to consider. Especially in terms of your health and wellbeing, it is vital to be fully prepared before you leave home. Although health care in the Netherlands is ranked amongst the best in the world, it is still important to find the appropriate level of healthcare coverage. With that said, the appropriateness of the healthcare solution largely depends on your personal needs. Choosing the proper health insurance for both you and your family can be quite an overwhelming challenge. In this article, we will tell you what you should consider when making your final choice. Want to know which insurances are mandatory? We got you covered!
Mind the gap: safely switch policies
If you are moving to the Netherlands, it is firstly important to make sure that your current health insurance remains valid until the actual day of arrival. In most cases, health insurance providers will demand the cancellation of your policy by post or online. Sometimes there can be some fees if you appear to have any outstanding payments or if you decide to cancel before the agreed term. In the Netherlands, for instance, all health insurance packages can only be canceled every 31st of December.
Once canceled the next step would be arranging health care coverage in your new country of residence. This can concern both public and private insurance, depending on the availability in the country you are moving to. Please note that you need to be sure the commencement date matches the expiry date of your previous healthcare plan to avoid gaps in your coverage.
Internationals vs. national plans
Besides between public- and private plans, you can also choose between national or international ones. Quite some expats are opting for an international plan because it matches their unpredictable lifestyle. These portable healthcare insurances not only prevent gaps in your coverage, but you also don’t have to worry about insurance every time you relocate. The less you have to worry about, the easier your move gets.
Choose what fits you
As you will have noticed by now, both time and planning play an important role when choosing your plan. As the proper healthcare solution depends on your personal needs, it is important to securely evaluate all the options. Take a good look at additional healthcare solutions you might need that are not included in the basic coverage. It is understandable that you want to keep the costs as low as possible, but it is equally advisable to make sure your most vital health needs are fully covered. In other words: do the math and think carefully about your actual lifestyle.
Do you need help picking the right healthcare insurance of any other insurance? Contact us and we will make sure they call you back for a complimentary consultation.