What does your health insurance cover?
The fees of obstetric care in the Netherlands are mostly covered by your basic health insurance. This includes the care before, during and after childbirth. However, some fees are payable, we have listed these below.
Tip: at the end of the year, take a good look at your insurance policy. Although the basic obstetric care costs are fully reimbursed by all health insurances, cover from additional health insurance can vary. Examples of payable care are a pregnancy class, maternity pack, excess cost for maternity care, physiotherapy or breastfeeding consultations with a specialist. It will be in your best interest to inform yourself and to keep costs down.
Insurance excess
The Dutch healthcare system works with an insurance excess. (the annual amount that you must pay to undergo certain medical treatments before the health insurance covers the rest) The check-ups by the midwife and therefore the cost of are not subject to the excess. However, the excess DOES apply with medication, blood tests, transport to the hospital when in labour; these are also known as indirect costs.
For more information about pregnancy related costs, please click here (only in Dutch).
Prenatal screenings
You have the option of undergoing prenatal screenings at various stages of your pregnancy, such as the 13 and 20 week ultrasounds and the NIPT. These examinations are optional. The intake consultation with the midwife and the screenings themselves are covered by your basic health insurance.
Ultrasounds
During your pregnancy, you will undergo a number of ultrasounds. The ultrasounds performed by the midwife are usually free of charge. An early ultrasound is payable, unless there is a medical indication. Check this page on our website for the most recent fees for an early ultrasound and more information about ultrasounds in general.
Pregnancy and birthing classes
Although we highly recommend it, taking part in a pregnancy or birthing class is optional. Should you (and your partner) wish to take part, we advise to check your insurance policy beforehand regarding cover. Please check out our website for more information about the birthing class we offer ourselves.
Birth
The costs of a home birth are fully covered by your health insurance. This also applies when you give birth at the hospital due to a medical indication. Should you still wish to have a hospital birth under the care of a midwife, without a medical emergency, your basic health insurance will only cover part of the costs. The remaining cost can either be claimed under additional cover or you can pay these fees yourself.
Maternity Period
The costs of midwifery care during the maternity period are fully covered by your basic health insurance. This does not apply to (daily) maternity care at home or at the Geboortehuis.
For maternity care at home, a personal contribution of €4.70 per hour (2022) applies. Whether these costs can be (partially) claimed back depends on your (extra cover) insurance policy. If you receive maternity care in het Geboortehuis without a medical indication for example, your personal contribution is €19 each day for your child and €19 each day for yourself. An additional personal contribution applies if the institution charges a daily rate that is higher than €134. As an insured person, you are responsible for these additional costs.
Good to know: as standard you will receive 49 hours of maternity care for breastfeeding, or 45 hours of maternity care for formula.
Lactation specialist
Definitely worth mentioning is the possibility of consulting with a lactation specialist. Available options are a (breast) feeding class during your pregnancy and further coaching once the baby is born. The fees and services of a lactation specialist vary; take time to research this. With costs such as these, it is highly recommended to check your insurance policy carefully on which costs can be claimed back.
More information
To find more information about which fees your health insurance covers, please visit the official government website of the National Health Care Institute (Zorginstituut Nederland). Other available sources are: the websites of Independer and the Consumentenbond. These two are not official government sources, but provide a helpful overview. All these pages are in Dutch.
