Tens of thousands of residents in the Netherlands are regularly denied essential medical care because they lack health insurance, the Dutch Health and Youth Care Inspectorate (IGJ) reported Monday. The inspectorate estimates that around 100,000 people are uninsured, including homeless individuals, EU labor migrants who lose coverage after job loss, and undocumented residents who fear seeking care will expose their legal status.
“People without a residence permit are often afraid they will be discovered as ‘illegal’ during a visit to a doctor,” the IGJ said. The inspectorate also noted that some healthcare providers fail to treat uninsured patients because they are unaware they can claim reimbursement or do not know how to navigate the process.
The IGJ stressed that all residents, regardless of insurance status, are entitled to medically necessary care, warning that delays or lack of treatment can have serious health consequences. Two legal schemes allow doctors, pharmacies, hospitals, and nursing homes to claim reimbursement for care provided to uninsured patients—one for undocumented foreigners and another for residents uninsured for other reasons.
The inspectorate commended street doctors, street nurses, and healthcare institutions that provide care to uninsured individuals. It also highlighted municipal initiatives that guide uninsured residents to medical services.
IGJ called on healthcare providers to ensure all staff, including reception personnel, are aware of the rights of uninsured patients and trained to use interpreters when needed. It also urged stronger local collaboration among healthcare providers, municipalities, and social organizations to identify uninsured individuals and connect them with care.
“Not all healthcare providers know that or how they can claim reimbursement for care provided to uninsured patients,” the IGJ said. “As a result, people often do not receive care at general practitioners, pharmacies, or hospitals, or doctors cannot arrange follow-up care.”
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