Health insurance & studying, going on an internship, or travelling abroad
Going a abroad for a while, such as to study in the US or go backpacking in Asia, may have consequences for your health insurance in the Netherlands. Check the arrangements you have to make.
Situation
What is your situation?
I am going to study abroad
If you are going to study abroad, perhaps in Belgium or Germany, you will continue to be insured in the Netherlands as normal, regardless of whether you will continue to live in the Netherlands or move into student housing in the country where you are going to study.
If you take a job while at university or do an internship abroad, you will in some cases cease to be entitled to Dutch health insurance. This will be assessed by ‘Sociale Verzekeringsbank’ (SVB). Ask SVB to based on the Dutch Long-Term Care Act (‘Wet langdurige zorg’, Wlz), and send us a copy of the statement.
I am going on an internship abroad
If you are going on an internship abroad, you may not always be able to keep your health insurance in the Netherlands. It all depends on the country where you will be doing your internship, and on whether you will be paid for it.
If yours is a paid internship, SVB will assess whether or not you can keep your Dutch health insurance. Ask SVB to based on the Dutch Long-Term Care Act (‘Wet langdurige zorg’, Wlz), and send us a copy of the statement.
If it is not a paid internship, you will continue to be insured in the Netherlands as normal.
If you have cancelled your health insurance and you are moving back to the Netherlands after your internship, you have 4 months from the end of your internship to take out Dutch health insurance again.
Tip: ask the agency arranging your internship or your school about health insurance options in the country where you are going on an internship.
I am going to travel abroad
Going on a trip around the world? There are several factors that determine whether or not you can keep your Dutch health insurance. Whether you stay registered as a resident of the Netherlands is one of them. Whether you will be doing paid work abroad is another.
Travelling abroad for less than one year? And will you continue to be registered as a resident of your Dutch municipality?
If so, your health insurance will remain unchanged. Do check, however, if you need travel insurance. If you are deregistering as a resident of your municipality, ‘Sociale Verzekeringsbank’ (SVB) will assess whether or not you can keep your health insurance in the Netherlands. Ask SVB to based on the Dutch Long-Term Care Act (‘Wet langdurige zorg’, Wlz), and share the result with us.
Will you be doing paid work on your travels?
If you are going to work in an EU member states: Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus (not including Northern Cyprus), Czechia, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France (including Guadeloupe, French Guyana, Martinique, Mayotte, Réunion, and St. Martin), Germany, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Poland, Portugal (including Madeira and the Azores), Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain (including Ceuta, Melilla, and the Canary Islands), and Sweden., or in Canada, Chile, India, Japan, the United States, or South Korea, you will have to be insured from your first day at work there. And you must cancel your insurance in the Netherlands. If you are going to do paid work in any other country, your Dutch health insurance will continue only if you will not be working there for longer than three months. If you will be working there for longer than three months, you must cancel your insurance in the Netherlands.
Travelling abroad for longer than one year?
If so, ‘Sociale Verzekeringsbank’ (SVB) will assess whether or not you can keep your health insurance. Ask SVB to based on the Dutch Long-Term Care Act (‘Wet langdurige zorg’, Wlz), and share the result with us.
Tip: take your EHIC with you when travelling in Europe or Australia. The EHIC is valid in Australia, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus (the Greek part), Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, United Kingdom (England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland), Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, the Netherlands, North Macedonia, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovenia, Slovakia, Spain, Sweden and Switzerland.. The card is confirmation for healthcare providers abroad that your bill will be paid by CZ.
