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Medical Insurance & Healthcare

The Dutch healthcare system can be quite intimidating for international students. The information on this page should help you get started. 

Also go to Student Wellbeing
Also go to Student Wellbeing

Medical Insurance

You are by law obliged to be properly insured during your time in the Netherlands. Above all things, you should make sure that you are sufficiently insured for medical expenses (including pre-existing conditions). In addition, third-party liability insurance is absolutely essential, and if you will be living in student accommodation it is also a good idea to have fire and furnishings insurance. 

  • Non-EU/EEA students: Ensure you have a health insurance from your home country with enough coverage or take out a private health insurance (such as AON Insurance). Find out what your insurance should cover on the EUR ‘insurance for international students page’.
  • EU/EEA students: May be eligible to use a European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) for necessary medical costs. Confirm this with your home country's health insurer, as this might differ per EU member state.
  • If you have a part-time job or a paid internship earning at least the Dutch minimum wage, you are required to have Dutch public health insurance.

Erasmus University Rotterdam (EUR) strongly recommends the AON insurance for a complete coverage. This company has a long and outstanding history in the field of medical insurances for foreign students. However, you are free to choose your own insurance company. Their ICS Complete+ Insurance covers:

  • Pre-existing medical conditions;
  • Pre-existing psychological conditions;
  • HIV/AIDS;
  • Medical costs for minimum of € 500.000.

This insurance package is fully compliant with visa regulations, and there are no deductibles. 

  • Insurance for international students

    You are by law obliged to be properly insured during your time in the Netherlands. Find out more about getting a health insurance.

    More information
  • Health problems?

    During your time as a student, you might feel the need to talk to someone other than friends or you might have medical problems.

    Health
  • Advice & Counselling

    Student counselling supports students who have questions or problems during their study.

    Get counselling

Healthcare: General Pratictioner (GP) or Huisarts

For medical assistance, the usual practice in the Netherlands is for a patient to have an initial consultation with a general practitioner (Dutch: huisarts), before making an appointment with a specialist in hospital.

We strongly encourage you to register at a GP as soon as possible. Medical help without referral can lead to unforeseen, high costs and waiting times. You can search for a doctor in Rotterdam via this website. The site is in Dutch, but by entering your postal code or 'Rotterdam' you can find your nearest doctor's practice. Next, you can contact the practice directly to ask how to register. The GP practice Jans Huisartsen* is located close to our Woudestein campus and they have a lot of experience with - and facilities for - international students. The practice is currently open for registrations every last week of the month. 

*Please know that Jans Huisartsen is free to choose which insurance companies they work with. Currently, Jans only accepts a valid EHIC and Dutch Basic Health Insurance providers for students with paid employment or internships. They do not accept most international student insurance providers (such as AON) nor home-country insurance companies.

Tip: Before making an appointment, check your insurance policy to inquire which treatments are fully or partial covered by your insurance to avoid unexpected costs afterwards.

For more information about finding a dentist or physical therapy take a look at the health information provided by EUR.

Emergency?

In an emergency where there is a danger to life or a crime is in progress you can contact the police, fire brigade or ambulance by dialing 112 from any phone (free-of-charge).

Safety & Security