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Do I have incapacity insurance coverage outside the Netherlands?

Whether and where you have incapacity insurance coverage depends on the country where you live and work.

Attention:

Incapacity insurance guarantees you an income if you cannot work at all or in part due to sickness or disability. Incapacity insurance does not cover the cost of medical care. For insurance that does cover the cost of medical care, see health insurance outside the Netherlands.

What is your situation?

I live in the Netherlands

If you live in the Netherlands and work at least one day a week in Belgium or Germany, find out what coverage you have on Grensinfo.nl (information in Dutch):

I live outside the Netherlands

If you live in Belgium or Germany and work at least one day a week in the Netherlands, find out what coverage you have on Grensinfopunt.nl:

If you are in employment and you do not perform a significant part of your work in your country of residence, then you are insured in the country where your employer's head office or company is located. For more information about social security abroad, visit Europa.eu.

If you live and work in an EU/EEA country or Switzerland, you are insured – in the country where you work – against loss of income due to the inability to work.

If you live and work in a country with which the Netherlands has reciprocal agreement, in most situations you are insured against loss of income due to the inability to work in accordance with the rules of the country where you work.

Exceptions

The following are situations in which you are insured in the Netherlands, even though you work in a country with which the Netherlands has reciprocal agreements:

  • you have been working abroad for less than a year
  • you work abroad, but also in the Netherlands
  • you are employed in the international transport sector
  • you work at sea, such as in shipping, in fishing or on an oil rig
  • you are a civil servant posted to an embassy or consulate.
Attention: If none of these situations apply to you but you’d like to remain insured in the Netherlands, you can apply for an A1 certificate from the Social Insurance Bank (SVB).

If you live and work in a country with which the Netherlands does not have any reciprocal agreements regarding people who are unable to work due to sickness or disability, there are still some cases in which you may have incapacity insurance coverage in the Netherlands. If you have compulsory insurance through your employer, for example. You can also take out optional insurance in the Netherlands.

If you do not have incapacity insurance coverage in the Netherlands, you may be able to take out insurance in the country where you live and work. Consult the benefits organisation in the country where you live to see what your options are. If you live in an EU/EEA country or Switzerland, you can find the relevant benefits organisation on Europa.eu. 

Incapacity benefit abroad

If you know where you are insured, check whether you qualify for incapacity benefit outside the Netherlands.

If you are moving abroad

Contact

If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact us.

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