The outright winner where you get the most physiotherapy reimbursed for your premium is ONVZ. Read on quickly...
Do you want to continue using physiotherapy in 2023? Then pay close attention to how you will be insured in 2023. All health insurers have once again increased the premium of their basic insurance and supplementary insurances. Unfortunately, little of this increase falls on the physiotherapists themselves. The reimbursements we receive as a practice for physiotherapy care remain too low and often no longer cover costs. Of course, we want to continue to provide you with good physiotherapy care in 2023, which is why we share our concerns with you and are happy to provide you with targeted information about your choices for 2023 when it comes to supplementary insurances. Especially if you use physiotherapy regularly!
Difference can be up to € 400 per year
It is definitely worth looking into health insurance policies carefully, as it can save you a lot of money on an annual basis. There is already a difference of over €400 a yearr. While the coverage of the basic package is the same for everyone as its content is set by the government.
It is therefore important to have a good overview of the conditions and reimbursements so that you know what to expect from the basic insurance and/or supplementary insurance.
Fortunately, there are a number of ways to still save on your health insurance, without necessarily compromising on good care. Read here the tips on zorgwijzer.nl.
An overview of all healthcare premiums 2023 can be found here.
From 1 January 2023, there will no longer be a group discount on health insurance policies. While almost 2 in 3 Dutch people use it. There is one advantage: comparing health insurances will be a lot easier!
Physiotherapy in the basic insurance
For people with a condition on the government's list of chronic conditions, physiotherapy treatments are reimbursed from the 21st treatment from the basic insurance. You then pay for the first 20 treatments per disorder (i.e. not per year!) yourself. The level of reimbursement varies between health insurers. If necessary, you can take out supplementary insurance to also receive reimbursement for the first 20 treatments.
The treatments listed below are covered by the basic insurance:
- Treatment for temporary complaints in patients up to 18 years of age (9 treatments)
- Treatment for a chronic condition in patients up to 18 years of age
- Treatment for a chronic indication in patients aged 18 years and over from the 21st treatment.
- Treatment for etalage legs (up to 37 treatments over a year)
- Pelvic physiotherapy for urine leakage
- Osteoarthritis treatment (maximum 12 exercise therapies in one year)
- COPD treatment (varies per health insurer)
- Corona patients who have been left with severe symptoms and disabilities after their infection will be reimbursed for paramedical recovery care from the basic insurance, provided they meet a number of specific conditions. This scheme is valid until 1 August 2023. For physiotherapy or remedial therapy, a maximum of 50 treatments applies. Click here for more information and conditions for recovery care.
When is supplementary physiotherapy insurance useful?
Whether you need supplementary health insurance for physiotherapy depends on your current care needs and the risk you run of a condition. If you are healthy and do not play high-risk sports, you may not need any supplementary insurance at all - as far as physiotherapy is concerned - or the cheapest supplementary package will suffice. You are then better off paying separately for your physiotherapy treatments at our practice. See our website for more info.
If you have a higher risk of injury because of the sport you play, supplementary insurance for physiotherapy is worth considering. And if you suffer (more often) from your back or have weak joints, it may certainly be wise to take out a slightly more expensive supplementary insurance.
Always ask yourself whether you want to pay for physiotherapy yourself if something happens, or whether you prefer to pay a (monthly) premium for it. There are no fixed prices for physiotherapy treatment. Nevertheless, to give an indication of what the average cost of a physiotherapist in 2023, you should allow for €43 for a regular treatment. Specialised treatments such as manual therapy or pelvic physiotherapy cost a bit more.
Important:
- Hhe hasn't been mhonour needed to request a referral note from the GP to see the physiotherapist and be eligible for reimbursement.
- The reimbursements below are based on physiotherapists who have a contract with the health insurance companyr. This includes us. FriskFysio has contracts with all health insurers.
- The deductible is not applicable if you use physiotherapy treatment from your supplementary insurance.
How do you choose the health insurance that suits you best?
Use the checklist on the Consumers' Association website: Choosing health insurance: what do you look out for?
Check your policy to find out which reimbursement you are eligible for. Most health insurers reimburse a maximum number of treatments per year, e.g. 9, 12, 18 or 27. So determine your care needs for yourself. Some health insurers do not calculate in number of treatments, but reimburse a maximum amount (e.g. €250) per year.
Please note: the maximum reimbursement applies to all therapies together. So if you get reimbursed for a maximum of 12 treatments per year, this includes all treatments of the therapies the health insurer counts as 'physiotherapy'.
Do you expect few healthcare costs next year? Then consider voluntarily increasing your deductible. In exchange for the risk you run, you will pay less premium. You can choose a voluntary excess of €100, €200, €300, €400 or €500. You pay this amount on top of the compulsory excess of €385.
Voluntarily increasing your deductible is not smart if you expect a lot of healthcare costs. Also, do not opt for a higher deductible if you do not have the amount of your compulsory and voluntary deductibles behind you.
Sometimes insurers ask for a health or medical certificate. They may reject you on that basis. Check this before taking out a policy.
The absolute winner where you get the most physiotherapy reimbursed for your premium is ONVZ!
FriskFysio advises everyone to switch to this health insurer!
| Insurer | Policy | Number of treatments | +premium |
| ONVZ | Topfit | 50 | €67,66 |
| The Friesland | Optimal | 36 | €54,75 |
| Silver Cross | Supplementary 4 stars | 36 | €74,25 |
| ProLife | Extra Large Policy | 36 | €74,25 |
The most advantageous supplementary policies for physiotherapy at a minimum of 9 treatments
| Insurer | Policy | Number of treatments | Premium |
| ONVZ | Startfit (+8.32) | 10 | €150,82 |
| DSW | AV compact (+8.75) | 9 | €146,25 |
| CZ | Supplementary 4 (+10.50) | 9 | €138,50 |
| ProLife | Small policy (+7.95) | 9 | €139,90 |
| CZ | Basic (+8.10) | 9 | €140,- |
| Silver Cross | Supplementary 1 star (+8.25) | 9 | €140,20 |
| Ditzo | ZorgBeter (+11.95) | 9 | €140,90 |
Note: You have until 31 December 2022 to switch health insurer/policy. It is definitely worth comparing the different policies from your situation! Go to Zorgwijzer.co.uk to calculate which policy is most interesting for you in 2023.
Would you like more information about the financial struggles we as physiotherapists are now facing. The Physiotherapy Employers' Association sounded the alarm via a press release in November. This gives a good picture of what we are facing, year after year.
