Physiotherapists have begun a campaign to alert their clients to the pros and cons of switching health insurance company to make sure they are properly covered for their treatment, the Volkskrant says on Monday.

The campaign targets people with chronic conditions who need regular physiotherapy and urges them to make sure they pick the right top-up policy.

There are, the physiotherapists say, just three policies which accept everyone and offer unlimited coverage, compared with 22 which only accept people after a medical check-up and then don’t allow free choice of practitioner.

Adults with chronic conditions have to pay for the first 20 physiotherapy sessions themselves, plus the €375 own risk, but are only covered by insurance if their condition appears on a special list.

Rheumatism

Rheumatism, for example, is not included on the list, leaving patients who need physiotherapy picking up the entire bill – unless they have proper top-up coverage. The insurance policies which offer unlimited treatment without a medical check cost upwards of €175 a month.

A spokesman for the health insurers association ZN said the lobby group did not object to the advice from health insurers – ‘if it is done correctly and within the rules’.

The Dutch consumers and competition authority ACM told the Volkskrant it is looking into the the physiotherapists’ campaign. A spokesman for the health ministry said care providers may give collective recommendations but that it is important patients also look at the quality of the service and whether or not they can choose their practitioner.