Insurance companies are reducing the contents of their top-up health insurance policies, the Volkskrant reports on Monday.

For example, it is virtually impossible to find a health insurance company which will fund unlimited physiotherapy and the chronically sick are having to pay for a larger percentage of their care, the Volkskrant says.

The claim stems from research by health insurance comparison website Zorgkiezer.nl. ‘Top-up packages are becoming more expensive but will pay for less,’ the website’s director Peter Ruys told the paper.

Premiums

Premiums for the basic health insurance policy are falling by an average of 10% next year.

Stad Holland, Interpolis and De Friesland are slashing provisions in their top-up policies the most, Ruys said.

In 2006, when the health insurance system changed, 93% of people had a top-up health policy, but this has now shrunk to 86%, the Volkskrant said.

Health insurers Achmea and VGZ are offering cheaper top-up policies for younger people, who make fewer claims. The difference can mount up to almost €300 a year, the paper says.