Healthcare allowance | Student Insurance NL (2024)

As a student, you probably don’t have a lot of money to spend. Healthcare insurance premiums can take a large bite out of your monthly budget. If you are obliged to have a basic healthcare insurance in the Netherlands, you might be entitled to compensation for Dutch healthcare insurance expenses. On this page, you can find information about how, when and where to apply for a healthcare allowance.

Check your healthcare allowance:
Healthcare Allowance Calculator

What is healthcare allowance?

Healthcare allowance is a financial compensation for the cost of basic healthcare insurance. If you meet specific requirements, you will be entitled to this compensation. The Dutch Tax Authority (Belastingdienst) will pay this healthcare allowance.

Qualify for a healthcare allowance

You will be eligible for the healthcare allowance when you meet the following criteria:

• You are obliged to take out a basic healthcare insurance in the Netherlands (for more information, check our page basic healthcare insurance);
• You need to have a citizen service number (Burger Service Nummer (BSN);
• You need to have a Dutch nationality or residence permit (If you don’t have a residence permit, you can contact the Dutch immigration authorities (IND);
• You must be 18 years or older;
• Your income can’t be higher than €37.496,- a year;
• Your savings are not higher than 140.213,-.

Apply for a healthcare allowance

You can apply for a healthcare allowance at the Dutch Tax Authority. There are two ways to do this: by classic ‘post’ or online.

• By post: you can find contact information on the website of the Tax Authority or call the Tax Authority Phone (Belastingtelefoon) to ask them to send you the application forms.
• Online: you can fill in the application forms online on the website of the Belastingdienst under the tab Toeslagen. To send these application forms, you need an electronic signature (DigiD).

Healthcare allowance amount

The amount of compensation you will get depends on your income and your family situation. The maximum amount of healthcare allowance you can receive every year is € 1848,- in 2024, which comes down to € 154,- each month.

Estimated yearly income

To apply for a healthcare allowance, you are required to make an estimation of your income. To estimate your income, you can use your most recent income tax assessment and add your salary rise (or drop) and your possible income outside the Netherlands.

Receive your first healthcare allowance

After you have sent your application form, the Tax Authority will make a provisional calculation of the amount. Within 8 weeks, you will receive this provisional calculation, and within the same period of time, you will receive your first healthcare allowance payment in your bank account.
When you receive this provisional calculation, make sure to check it for any possible errors.

Income or situation change

If your income changes or something changes in your family situation, you have to inform the Tax Authority. You can inform them by filling in a change form and sending this to the Tax Authority.
If you don’t inform the Tax Authority about this change in your situation, it is possible that you will receive too much healthcare allowance. If you are not entitled to this amount of health care allowance, you will have to pay back the difference. To prevent a situation where you must pay back a large amount of money, make sure you communicate the changes to the Tax Authority in time. You might even be entitled to a higher amount of compensation.

Future healthcare allowance

If you apply for a healthcare allowance, you will receive a definite calculation of the received healthcare allowance at the end of the year. Furthermore, you will receive a provisional calculation for the following year.
If there are any (foreseeable) changes in your income or family situation, it is wise to let the Tax Authority know right after you have received the provisional calculation for the coming year.