Every Ukrainian who has requested temporary asylum in the Netherlands is guaranteed medical care. This is a constitutional right. How is it implemented in practice?
Where to go for help
- To the family doctor
If the situation is not urgent, but ordinary (cold, fever, mild pain, etc.), then you need home doctor (hiusarts). This is a local doctor. It will be recommended to you by neighbors or accommodation center volunteers. The doctor will make an appointment, send you for tests, write a prescription, if necessary. He can also send you to the hospital for an appointment with a specialist (directly, that is, bypassing the family doctor, you will not get to the hospital specialists), prescribe tests, make a cardiogram and even an ultrasound scan. But don't expect to be easily admitted to the hospital. In the Netherlands, great importance is attached to the formation of their own immunity, so do not be surprised when you are offered to drink herbal syrup or paracetamol. Don't wait for antibiotics!
- To the hospital
If you receive a referral to hospital (ziekenhuis), then specialists will take care of you. As a rule, they manage chronic diseases and complex cases by prescribing both treatment and appointments without the consent of your family doctor.
- To the ambulance
В in case of emergency call 112. Perhaps you will be transferred to the post of doctors on duty or to the ambulance post at the hospital. If the case is serious, they will call for an appointment with the specialists on duty at the hospital or simply limit themselves to telephone advice. An ambulance will come only in exceptional cases.
- It's important: you can not immediately call a doctor at home. The doctor is not required to visit you at home. But in an emergency, he can come. And yet, most likely, you yourself will have to go to see him, even with a child.
Should you be treated for free?
- If you have applied for asylum in the Netherlandsmedical assistance is paid for by the Medical Assistance Fund for Asylum Seekers (RMA). You don't have to pay anything yourself.
- If you not asked for asylum and don't work in the Netherlands, the medical bill is presented by your doctor. This bill is paid from the Medical Needs Fund for Uninsured Persons. You don't have to pay anything yourself.
The state compensates doctors for services from the basic insurance package, that is, standard treatment. But you can also get emergency medical care: the government of the Netherlands and a number of hospitals have taken care of this, which allocate places for Ukrainian “difficult” patients.
Until you show up for work, you don't have to pay to see a doctor. If the doctor has questions, then you can show him a screenshot from the site, which says about the special status of Ukrainians and that the doctor's services will be compensated by the government. All information about reimbursement for medical services can be found here:
https://www.hetcak.nl/zakelijk/regelingen/regeling-onverzekerden
What types of services are paid for from refugee funds:
- If in the Netherlands you asked for asylum (requested refugee status), then the RMA fund will pay for all the necessary medical care. More details on the RMA website: https://www.rmasielzoekers.nl/.
- If you did not apply for refugee status and you have a “special status” as a migrant from Ukraine, then you are paid for the types of medical care from the basic insurance package, but with some restrictions, which relate, for example, to dental services. That is, part of the dentist's services is not paid by the Fund for necessary medical care to uninsured persons.
Medical insurance
If you are employed, then you must have medical insurance (zorgverzekering). Of course, you can buy it and arrange it online yourself, but sometimes the employer offers an insurance package.
The amount of the insurance premium depends on the package of services. Often the "Basic Package" does not cover all types of services of dentists or, for example, orthopedists, masseurs and physiotherapists. Read the terms of the contract carefully!
How much to pay? It varies, but keep in mind that in the Netherlands, in addition to monthly insurance premiums, you will have to pay own risk (eigen risico), that is, to pay for a number of medical services in addition to the insurance package. In 2022, its amount is 385 euros.
If you pay something in excess of the cost of the insurance package and the amounts of your own risk, then at the end of the year, when filing a tax return, you will be able to claim tax deduction for reimbursement of medical expenses (zorgtoeslag). You can find the conditions for its provision on our website: https://www.nalog.nl/vse-uslugi/chastnym-licam/zapros-subsidij/zorgtoeslag/. If you have any questions, please contact our specialists.
You can also consult the National Information Center for Health Insurance. Free phone: 0800-64 64 644, calls from abroad or from phones of operators in other countries - at +31 88 900 6960.
Where to buy medicines
The most popular and safe drugs are even sold in grocery stores or in specialty "ready-made" stores - here they are called drogists (drogisterij). Look for the vitamin and OTC departments at Albert Heijn, Jumbo, Lidl, Aldi, Plus, Kruidvat, Etos, Action.
There are also pharmacies, there is more choice, but complex dosage forms will be sold to you only by prescription. And antibiotics too. You can try to present a prescription that was valid in Ukraine, but it is better to rewrite it with your family doctor. If you have a health insurance contract, you will receive prescription pharmacy drugs for free.
Dental services
Most likely, you will need an additional insurance package for dental services - or simply have to pay your dentist's bill (tandarts). But there is a possibility that children under 18 years of age will be cured of their teeth even upon presentation of a document confirming your “special status”. This decision will be made by the doctor. Many are willing to help.
Chronic diseases
The more documents and extracts from medical records you show to your family doctor, the higher the likelihood that your chronic diagnosis will be confirmed in the Netherlands, you will be registered and sent to specialists in a hospital.
Pregnancy
Dutch women give birth at home. But if the course of pregnancy requires a stay in the clinic, then you will be provided with free assistance. Start with the first appointment with your family doctor, and he will already send you for registration to obstetricians-gynecologists.
You can find more answers to questions about medical care at the link:
https://www.zorgverzekeringslijn.nl/ukrainian/#3
