Thousands of people with budget health insurance policies had to pay towards the cost of their treatment last year because it was not fully covered, the AD reports on Friday.

The paper says at least 13,766 people had to pay an average of €450 extra, which wipes out any benefit from the €10 a month lower premium.

Peter Ruys of healthcare comparison website Zorgkiezer told the AD he was shocked by the size of the average extra payment.

Many people are unaware that not all their treatment is covered and that budget policy holders can only use a restricted number of healthcare providers. ‘If you just walk in somewhere it can cost you hundreds of euros,’ he said.

Some 328,000 people had a budget health insurance policy last year.