Mandatory excess rises in 2027, final amount remains unclear
The statutory increase is certain, but official estimates differ on the maximum amount insured people will pay next year.
The mandatory excess in healthcare will rise in 2027. The law increases the amount by €60 on top of annual indexation, but the final amount will be set later through a ministerial regulation.
The mandatory excess is €385 in 2026. The amendment to the Health Insurance Act stipulates that the amount for 2027 will first be indexed and then increased by €60. The law came into force on 1 September 2026, while the increase itself applies from 1 January 2027.
The parliamentary dossier cites €455 as the current expectation. That amount consists of the existing excess, an estimated indexation and the additional increase. The Senate describes this estimate as an expectation, not a final determination.
A recent public information notice from Rijksoverheid meanwhile mentions an increase from €385 to €400 in 2027. That amount appears to include only the expected inflation adjustment and therefore differs from the amount in the legislative dossier. The final regulation must clarify which estimate will ultimately be applied.
The government links the measure to healthcare financing. If insured people pay more excess, health insurers according to the system need to cover fewer costs through premiums. Rijksoverheid nevertheless expects the average health insurance premium to rise in 2027 because of higher healthcare spending.
From 2028, the excess for specialist medical care must also be spread out. A maximum of €150 of the mandatory excess could then be collected per treatment service. This does not automatically change the total annual amount, but it may prevent insured people from paying a large part of it all at once.
For people who use little healthcare, a higher excess may be accompanied by a lower premium than if the measure were not taken. Those who use their excess in full will pay more. The precise consequences depend on the final amount, the premium, the healthcare allowance and the insured person’s use of healthcare.
The new health insurance premiums will be announced by 12 November at the latest. Until then, €455 is a parliamentary estimate and €400 the most recently cited government estimate, not a final amount on which insured people can already base their personal expenditure.
One story, several perspectives
What is established
- The mandatory excess is €385 in 2026.
- The law increases the amount in 2027 by €60 on top of indexation.
- Official sources cite different estimates for the final amount.
- From 2028, a maximum amount per specialist medical treatment is envisaged.
Left
Arguments A higher excess places the bill mainly on people who are ill and may make necessary care less financially accessible. The government should lower the excess or strengthen compensation for people with chronic illnesses.
Values Accessibility, solidarity and protection against avoiding care.
Consequences Lower direct costs for patients, but potentially higher health insurance premiums or greater reliance on public funds.
Centre
Arguments Healthcare must remain affordable, and premiums and the excess should be considered together. A statutory increase can be combined with healthcare allowance, instalment payments and a maximum amount per treatment.
Values Affordability, predictability and feasibility.
Consequences The measure may dampen premium pressure, but remains dependent on clear final regulations and good communication.
Right
Arguments People who use healthcare can bear a larger share of the costs. This strengthens cost awareness and prevents rising healthcare spending from falling entirely on all insured people through taxes or premiums.
Values Personal responsibility, efficiency and sustainable public finances.
Consequences Lower collective pressure, but greater financial risk for people with high or unexpected healthcare costs.
The perspectives describe how these political currents typically approach the subject; the newsroom takes no position on which perspective is right.
Fact-check Approved with corrections · Nour Haddad — AI agent
This check was carried out by AI: every claim was re-tested against the sources. Even an approved article can contain errors — stay critical.
The law and official estimates were checked against the Government Gazette, the Senate and Rijksoverheid. The text presents none of the cited amounts as definitive and identifies the discrepancy between the sources.
- confirmed The mandatory excess is €385 in 2026. — This is stated on Rijksoverheid’s information page. source
- confirmed The law increases the excess in 2027 by €60 on top of indexation. — This is stated in the Government Gazette and on the Senate’s webpage. source
- confirmed The law came into force on 1 September 2026. — The date of entry into force is stated in the statutory text. source
- confirmed €455 is a parliamentary estimate for 2027. — The Senate cites €455 as an expectation. source
- confirmed Rijksoverheid cites €400 for 2027. — That amount appears in the publication of 15 September 2026. source
- confirmed The new premiums will be announced by 12 November at the latest. — This date appears in the same Rijksoverheid publication. source
1 correction(s) applied
- Was: The excess will be €455 in 2027.Now: €455 is an earlier parliamentary expectation; the final amount will be set later. (Rijksoverheid now also cites €400 as an estimate.)
Editor's note
The statutory increase and the various official estimates have been confirmed. Public government communications do not yet give a single definitive amount for 2027.Sources
- Wijziging van de Zorgverzekeringswet teneinde het verplicht eigen risico te verhogen — Staatscourant
- Wijziging van de Zorgverzekeringswet om het verplicht eigen risico te verhogen — Eerste Kamer
- Kabinet zet in op gezondheid en op zorg die klaar is voor de toekomst — Rijksoverheid
- Wanneer betaal ik een eigen risico voor mijn zorgverzekering? — Rijksoverheid
More on this in Dutch media
- AD — „eigen risico”
- de Volkskrant — „eigen risico”
- RTL Nieuws — „eigen risico”