Getting dutch insurance to cover out-of-country care

[Mauve]

Hi there! Sorry for the long thread title. Question is above.

I'm looking to potentially get top surgery by Garramone in Florida, and wondering if anyone has had any luck getting their insurance here to cover top-surgery outside of the Netherlands...? Considering the incredibly long waiting times and restrictions, as well as some of the surgeons having less than ideal results and requiring revisions, I was wondering if anyone thinks I have a shot at getting it covered even partially...?

THank you!

[Dawn]

As far as I know Dutch heath insurance can pay the same amount they have to pay in the Netherlands. You have to ask them first to avoid problems. And you need the right permissions like in the Netherlands. Everything above normal pay is for you, also stay and travel.

[Mauve]

Really?? That would be amazing. I assumed they would refuse anything outside of the country.

[Dawn]

Here an example of one of the biggest health insurances in the Netherlands:
https://www.zilverenkruis.nl/consumente ... buitenland

And European information:
https://europa.eu/youreurope/citizens/h ... dex_en.htm

[Marije]

The waiting list for top-surgery in NL are quite short. What are you exactly looking for? The surgery waitinglist is short, but waiting for diagnoses can be quite long.

However, to get your insurance to cover the surgery abroad you also need a diagnoses, and most often you need a double referal for surgery in other countries while in NL a single referal shoud sufice.

Not sure what problem you are trying to solve.

[Emma]

The insurance will only cover the cost of surgery abroad with prior written consent, if you travel abroad for the purpose of undergoing medical treatment.
Furthermore, if you're having surgery abroad there's all kinds of restrictions. For instance, most insurers will cover most the costs of surgery in the EU or European Economic Area (EU + Iceland, Liechtenstein, and Norway) but only limited when you go somewhere else, unless there is a bilateral treaty between The Netherlands and the country you're going to.

TL;DR - there is no way the cost of surgery in Florida will be fully reimbursed. The US obviously isn't in the EU or EEA and does not have a treaty with The Netherlands. You're only going to get what your insurer decides.


See https://www.zorginstituutnederland.nl/V ... n-zorg-zvw