What does it cost?

With a referral letter

Mental health treatment is in the basic package if you have a referral letter (verwijsbrief). You usually get it from your GP. A company doctor (bedrijfsarts) or a doctor at A&E can also refer you. Who else may refer you is in your policy conditions.

Do you need care straight away, for example in a crisis? Then you don't need a referral.

What isn't covered

The basic package pays for treatment of mental health problems that belong in mental health care. Help with, for example, problems at work, relationship problems, stress and burn-out, or adjusting to a new situation such as a divorce, grief or losing your job, is not covered.

Not sure whether your question belongs in mental health care? Discuss it with your GP. Talking to the POH-GGZ can help too, and that's free.

Supplementary insurance

Some supplementary policies (aanvullende verzekering) pay part of psychological help that isn't in the basic package, often up to a low amount per year. Many supplementary policies pay nothing for it. Check your own policy.

Is there a personal contribution?

No. There is no legal personal contribution (eigen bijdrage) for adult mental health care. Do you still pay part yourself at a practice without a contract? That's the part your insurer doesn't reimburse. Many people call that an eigen bijdrage too.

What counts and what doesn't

Treatment in mental health care counts towards your deductible, for example with a psychologist, psychotherapist or psychiatrist. Your GP and the POH-GGZ don't. An exploratory conversation in mental health care (verkennend gesprek) doesn't either, if your GP signed you up for it.

How it works in practice

One session in mental health care easily costs around €150 to €180. Your deductible is then used up after a few sessions. After that your insurer pays, for the rest of that year. Does your treatment continue into the new year? Then your deductible starts again.

Paying in instalments

Many insurers let you pay your deductible in instalments. Ask your insurer. How much you've used this year is usually in your insurer's app or on its website.

With a contract

Your insurer pays the bill. You only pay your deductible.

Without a contract

Your insurer pays part. With most policies that's a percentage of the average rate the insurer agreed with other practices. Note: it's not a percentage of the practice's bill. What you pay yourself is therefore often more than you'd think.

Often you pay the bill yourself first, and then claim the money back from your insurer.

In-kind, reimbursement or combination policy

With an in-kind policy (naturapolis), care with a contract is fully covered, and care without one partly. A reimbursement (restitutie) or combination policy gives you more free choice for a lot of care. But in every policy we looked at, mental health care follows the in-kind rules. So even with a more expensive policy, you usually don't get everything back at a practice without a contract.

Does the practice have a contract?

Check the search tool (zorgzoeker) on your insurer's website, or ask the practice. Ask for the year your treatment takes place: contracts can change each year.

Ask for help finding care

Your insurer has to make sure you get care in time. Ask for zorgbemiddeling or wachtlijstbemiddeling: they then look for a practice with an earlier place. With some insurers you also get more back at a practice without a contract if a contracted practice can't help you in time. Sometimes you need to ask permission first. What your insurer says is in the reimbursement by insurer.

A ready-made email to your insurer

Is the reimbursement too low?

The reimbursement at a practice without a contract may not be so low that it stops you from going there in practice. That's called the hinderpaalcriterium. Is that the case for you? Then you can ask your insurer for a higher reimbursement. Do it in writing, and before you start.