The Netherlands is a great place to study. It has an excellent education system, affordable housing and more than 300 universities. But there is one thing you have to consider, health insurance.
If the Dutch government considers you to be a resident of the nation, you must have Dutch health insurance. Because they are just doing short-term courses in the Netherlands, foreign students are typically excused from acquiring Dutch health insurance.
If you are from the EU, EEA, or Switzerland and want to study in the Netherlands, you can apply for the European Health Insurance Card (EHIC).
With this free card, you may receive medical treatment for free or at a great discount anywhere in Europe.
The EHIC does not cover the cost of returning home after suffering catastrophic injuries or illnesses, thus it is not a substitute for travel insurance. It also excludes scheduled operations and private healthcare.
Health insurance is not obligatory for all students in the Netherlands.
Health insurance is not obligatory for all students in the Netherlands. You can get health insurance through your university or through a private company.
You have to choose between basic, intermediate and comprehensive health insurance. Basic covers only emergency hospital visits, while intermediate covers additional services like dental care and physiotherapy. Comprehensive includes everything else: dental care, physiotherapy etc., but also includes long-term medication expenses such as blood pressure medication.
You can choose to pay a monthly premium for their own health care coverage: these premiums vary depending on whether you choose basic or comprehensive coverage (the cost of an annual package will be more expensive).
Learn how to apply for health insurance if you are already studying or want to study in the Netherlands here
