The Dutch government's planned reduction of the compulsory health insurance excess of €385 to €165 has been lambasted by the Council of States. In its opinion of June 11, published on June 16, the Council cautioned the measure is not supported and could have a negative financial impact on those most in need and could have consequences for the long-term sustainability of the health system.
5 months Ago
The proposal, which would amend the Health Insurance Act (Zorgverzekeringswet), aims to put the brakes on those who forego or postpone care because of the cost. But the Council said the proposal doesn't include anything that specifically helps the people most impacted by high deductibles, such as those with lower incomes, chronic conditions or little health literacy.
Premium Increases Could Erase Gains
According to the Council, reducing the deductible by €220 would cause insurance premiums to go up by about €200 per person per year on average.
That would cancel out a lot of the financial help and might make things worse for some people. Low-income people who do not meet the full deductible may end up paying more in premiums without saving enough in return.
The Council also expressed concerns about the government's decision to completely scrap compensation for people with disabilities.
In its assessment, the advisory division also found that for many, the loss in savings from ditching that allowance would outweigh the savings from the lower deductible.
Concerns about System and Policy Implications
The editorial underscored that the proposal is not a fix to growing healthcare affordability problems. The deductible is scheduled to be indexed again beginning in 2030, so it presumably will be increased in the future.
.
Copyright @ 2024 IBRA Digital