Consumer organisation Consumentenbond has asked the Dutch care authority NZa to tackle health insurers who are publishing new premium rates and conditions while still negotiating with care providers.

Insurers had until November 12 to tell their clients by how much their insurance will go up and where they can go to get health care. People are then able to compare insurances and either switch insurer, or stay put.

The Consumentenbond found that several big insurers are still in negotiations with hospitals and other care providers, making it impossible for clients to know beforehand if they can still go to the same hospital.

“How can you ask people to sign something when such essential information is missing? Insurers are asking people blindly agree to something that may not fit their situation at all,” Consumentenbond director Sandra Molenaar said.

The organisation said insurer DSW is still negotiating with 41% of the hospitals, while Zilveren Kruis is still agreeing financial terms with 50%. Menzis and VGZ have no contracts as yet with 86% and 88% respectively. CZ is still talking to 71% of hospitals but is willing to guarantee coverage for treatment at the hospitals it is negotiating with.

“If the NZa is unable to come up with a solution the Consumentenbond will not hesitate to start legal action against the insurers,” Molenaar said.