The health care system is based on a system of public and private insurance schemes. A distinction is made between what is seen as normal medical care and the exceptional costs associated with long-term care or high-cost treatment, where the risk is such that it cannot be borne by individuals or adequately covered by private insurance.
Firstly, everyone resident in the Netherlands is covered by a compulsory national insurance scheme for chronic health care risks and for catastrophic health expenditure under the Exceptional Medical Expenses Act. Secondly, those people on an annual income below a yearly adjusted specific level (60% of the population) are compulsorily ensured under the Health Insurance Act for normal medical risks such as general practitioner services, dental care, specialized medical care, maternity services, hospital services and transport. There are about 30 non-profit sickness funds, which nearly all operate nationwide.
(Source:
WHO country profile 1997)
