Insurance for international students

Student on laptop

Insurance guidelines for your stay in the Netherlands

You are by law obliged to be properly insured during your time in the Netherlands. Next to it being obliged, you also really don’t want to be surprised by having to pay for an unforeseen issue yourself. 

Make sure that you are sufficiently insured for:

  • Medical expenses - including any pre-existing conditions you might have;
  • Third-party liability insurance;
  • Fire and home furnishing insurance - if you will be living in student accommodation.  

Get informed by the Aon Student Insurance Webinars

What to do? 

You’ll study in the Netherlands: 

Private healthcare insurance

If you are younger than 30, or if you are older than 30 but staying in the Netherlands for your studies, and you are not employed, private healthcare agreements for international students will most likely suffice for you.

You’ll work in the Netherlands:

Basic public health insurance (basiszorgverzekering)

If you take on a job in the Netherlands (regardless of the number of hours you work or the salary you earn), you are obliged to have a Dutch basic public healthcare insurance from the moment you start working.

You also need basic public healthcare insurance if you do an internship for which you receive more than the minimum wage. In most cases you won't earn more than the minimum wage. But please, check your situation! For the calculation of the minimum wage that applies to your situation, please see the following tool (only available in Dutch).

Please note that if you need Dutch public healthcare insurance, you might be eligible for a healthcare allowance, to help you cover the insurance costs.

More information on working and internships in the Netherlands.

In our experience most foreign insurances do not sufficiently cover medical expenses in the Netherlands (e.g. due to the relatively high costs for medical care in the Netherlands), and an extra insurance package is required. Check this carefully!

You also need to keep in mind that if you use medical services with a non-Dutch insurance card or certificate, you will most likely be asked to pay all the costs in advance, and arrange the refund from your insurance provider yourself.

Do you want to pursue with a free of charge and fast insurance check? Visit our One Stop Shop on campus during the summer and winter. AON insurance will be present and able to check for you whether your current insurance covers everything.


European Health Insurance Card (EHIC)

If you are a citizen from the European Union, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway or Switzerland, you can apply for a European Health Insurance Card (EHIC). You can obtain the European Health Insurance Card free of charge by contacting your local health authority. EHIC will cover the most basic and emergency healthcare costs. Please note that an additional insurance package might be necessary for adequate coverage for medical expenses in the Netherlands!

To be prepared for everything, we recommend AON Complete+ for a complete coverage. See below for more information.
AON has a long and outstanding history in the field of medical insurances for foreign students. However, you are free to choose your own insurance company!

AON Insurance – ICS Complete+
AON has developed a tailor made ICS Complete+ insurance for international students of the Erasmus University Rotterdam. Unlike other insurance companies, AON covers the costs for existing medical treatments.  

ICS Complete+ covers
  • Pre-existing medical conditions;
  • Pre-existing psychological conditions;
  • HIV/AIDS;
  • Home furnishings
  • Luggage
  • Accidents
  • Liability
  • Legal costs

With ICS Complete+ you are insured worldwide. This insurance policy also meets the requirements for your immigration application.

Information and quote about this insurance can be found on the dedicated website AON Student Insurance.

Also drop by our One Stop Shops on campus during the summer and winter in order to arrange these insurance matters in person. AON can help you with all related questions and is able to check for you whether your current insurances suffices.

The Centraal Administratie Kantoor (also known as: CAK) sends out letters on behalf of the government to check if citizens are insured properly. Usually you get a letter when you haven't got the right insurance with a warning.

Unfortunately it can happen that you receive a letter, even though you are properly insured. What to do then? 

  • Always contact the so called Social Insurance Bank, in Dutch: Sociale Verzekeringsbank (SVB). They can check if you are insured properly. If so, your fine will be remitted. 

More information

For more information on insurance matters for international students, please see the Zorgverzekeringslijn. They can also advise you on all the insurance companies in the Netherlands.

If you get a compensation for your internship that is more than the minimum wage, then you'll need a basic health insurance. For the calculation of the minimum wage that applies to your situation, please see the following tool (only available in Dutch).

We advise you to make sure you’re properly insured before entering the Netherlands. If you have doubts about whether your insurance is sufficient, you can visit AON Insurance at one of our One Stop Shops to ask your questions about insurance in person.

Yes. For example when you work or do an internship for a short period only. 

No, because you don't fit the criteria to get a basic health insurance. Please note: it sometimes occurs that Dutch Health insurers (Nederlandse Basiszorgverzekeraars) accept international students. This is against the rules and you might get a fine!

That is not possible. You will keep the AON Complete insurance during your entire study period and will not be able to switch to AON Complete+. 

If you have received a letter from the CAK regarding your insurance obligation it is important to contact the Sociale Verzekeringsbank (SVB) for an assessment of your insurance position under the Wlz scheme. You need to take action within 3 months or you will receive a fine of approximately €400. Even if you incorrectly received the letter from the CAK.

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