Approximately 1.1 million people switched health insurers in the Netherlands at the end of last year, 6.5% of the insured. The estimation is drawn from provisional figures provided by Vektis. According to Vektis’ prognoses, the ultimate switching percentage this year will be between 6.6 and 6.8.
The switching percentage has fluctuated between 6 and 7 for years. In both 2021 and 2020, the final percentage was 6.5. Vektis does not investigate the motives of switchers.
The final balance can only be drawn up after 1 February. Until that date, it is possible to take out new healthcare insurance, provided that the old healthcare insurance was cancelled before 31 December. Moreover, not all changes have been processed by the health insurance companies yet. The provisional figures also only include those who have switched between the so-called risk carriers. The provisional forecast does not yet include people who have switched to another ‘brand’ of the same health insurer or from a collective health insurance to another of the same health insurer. The definite switching percentage may therefore deviate slightly and will follow in February. At the end of April, Vektis will publish the annual Insured Care Thermometer, with an extensive analysis of the switching figures.