What is the Wlz scheme?

The Wlz scheme is the national scheme that covers long-term care in the Netherlands. However, the Wlz scheme is not only important for long-term care.

If you want to take out Dutch basic health insurance, you must be insured under the Wlz scheme.

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Why is the Wlz an important scheme in the Dutch national health insurance system?

You can only take out basic health insurance in the Netherlands if you are insured under the Wlz long-term care scheme. Compulsory Wlz insurance is a necessary condition for access to the Dutch health insurance system. 

Health insurance covers the costs of medical care. Dutch health insurance is governed by the Health Insurance Act (Zvw). 

If you are insured under the Wlz scheme

As a rule, people are automatically insured under the Wlz scheme if they are resident or employed in the Netherlands. They do not have to do anything else to become insured. 

This is because the Wlz scheme is a national insurance scheme in the same way as the AOW pension scheme.

What is the SVB’s role in the Wlz long-term healthcare scheme

We are the organisation responsible for determining whether or not you are insured for long-term care under the Wlz scheme.

Our decision tells you whether you are covered by state health insurance in the Netherlands (in which case you must take out Dutch basic health insurance), or outside the Netherlands.

I have received a letter from my Dutch health insurer

Your Dutch health insurer has asked you for proof that you are insured under the Wlz scheme

If you do not provide proof they will stop your health insurance. 

What should you do?

  • Apply to us for an assessment of your Wlz insurance position
  • We will send you a decision stating whether or not you are insured under the Wlz scheme
  • Send a copy of this decision to your health insurer

I have received a letter from the CAK

If the letter from the CAK says that you are ‘not insured’, this means that you do not have Dutch basic health insurance.

What should you do?

  • Make sure you take out health insurance within 3 months, or
  • If you think that the letter from the CAK is not correct, ask us for an assessment of your Wlz insurance position

I want to go and live or work outside the Netherlands

If you start living or working outside the Netherlands, your insurance under the Wlz scheme will probably stop. 
 
If you are not insured, your medical expenses will not be reimbursed by the Netherlands, and you will not be able to keep your Dutch health insurance. Instead you will have to arrange for new health insurance outside the Netherlands.
 
But every situation is different. That is why you should always ask us to assess your insurance position under the Wlz scheme. 
 
We will then determine whether or not you are insured for long-term care under the Wlz scheme.

I want to come to the Netherlands to live or work

If you live or work in the Netherlands, you will probably be insured under the Wlz scheme.

That means you will have to take out Dutch health insurance, regardless of whether you already have insurance with a non-Dutch health insurer. 

But every situation is different. That is why you should always ask us to assess your insurance position under the Wlz scheme. 
 
We will then determine whether or not you are insured for long-term care under the Wlz scheme.

I want to apply for long-term care under the Wlz scheme

The SVB does not take applications for long-term care (Wlz care).

We only assess whether or not you are insured for long-term care under the Wlz scheme.

If you have any questions about getting Wlz care or a Wlz care indication, or about paying Wlz insurance contributions or the personal contribution for Wlz care (long-term care), please click on the links below: