These are the mistakes many Dutch people make when switching health insurance

The end of the year is approaching, and with it the opportunity to switch health insurance. It seems simple enough, but a lot can go wrong. Metro lists the most common mistakes when switching health insurance.

Health insurance premiums have risen over the past five years . Experts estimate the premium will cost around €200 per month. So it's important to do your research properly, as this could save you a few hundred euros per month.

One of the most common mistakes involves co-insuring children. Many parents think their children will automatically switch to the new health insurer, but that's not the case.

"We regularly see parents forget to register their children with their new insurer," says Nienke Wuits, health insurance expert at UnitedConsumers. "They assume their children will be automatically included, but that doesn't happen."

This can have unpleasant consequences. For example, a child could unknowingly remain insured with their previous health insurer. "You really have to register your children yourself when you switch," says Wuits.

Dental care has n't been covered by basic health insurance for several years now. To get dental care covered, you'll need to take out separate dental insurance. And that's where things often go wrong. People with comprehensive or expensive dental insurance, in particular, often forget that there's sometimes a waiting period. This means expensive treatments, such as crowns or implants, aren't covered immediately. You'll have to pay for them out of pocket first.

Still, some policyholders consciously choose a plan with a waiting period, because they often offer more generous coverage. "But if you've taken out dental insurance with a one-year waiting period, it's not wise to switch again soon after," Wuits warns. "Then you've essentially served that waiting period for nothing."

Comparison site Independer also emphasizes the importance of waiting periods and medical approval. "Are you taking out new supplementary health insurance and do you need medical approval from your insurer? Then it's advisable to apply for your insurance on time," the comparison site advises. "In some cases, you'll face a waiting period for your supplementary insurance. For example, you can't simply take out supplementary insurance if you already know you'll incur certain costs."

Every year, millions of Dutch people compare their health insurance premiums. Yet, Wuits emphasizes that the cheapest option isn't always the smartest. Apparently, the saying "cheap is expensive" also applies to health insurance. "It's understandable that people pay attention to price," she says. "But be sure to carefully consider what you really need and which healthcare providers the insurer works with. A low premium can be expensive if your healthcare provider doesn't have a contract with the insurer."

Not all health insurance policies work the same way. According to Radar, there are significant differences between in-kind policies, combination policies, and reimbursement policies. With an in-kind policy, you only receive full reimbursement if you use healthcare providers with whom your insurer has a contract. These are the so-called "contracted providers." If you choose a non-contracted provider, you pay a portion yourself. A combination policy offers slightly more freedom, but it does come with a slightly higher price.

Radar points out that many people forget to check whether their hospital or physiotherapist has a contract with their new insurer. If the health insurer doesn't have a contract with the provider, you could be faced with unexpectedly high costs.

Independer also advises checking your regular pharmacy carefully. "Do you get your medication from the local pharmacy? Then check if that's still possible with your new health insurer," the site writes. And that's something many people overlook. They think: my care will be covered, until they're confronted with a sky-high bill.

Note: some health insurers only allow you to order medication through an online pharmacy . In that case, you can only submit the invoice online. The advantage, however, is a lower premium.

Many people automatically take out the same supplementary insurance as in previous years. It's convenient, but not always necessary. After all, your situation can change at any time. Radar advises you to carefully consider whether you'll actually use that coverage. Supplemental insurance only makes sense if you actually expect to receive that care. Otherwise, you're paying a premium for something you don't use. And the premium is already expensive enough.

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