Health

Where to start

Dutch healthcare is organised around the huisarts, the family doctor almost all planned care goes through. This section explains how to get coverage, where to register and whom to contact in an emergency.

1. Work out your coverage. Ukrainians under temporary protection receive healthcare through the RMO scheme (Regeling Medische zorg Ontheemden) without insurance of their own. In some situations, for instance under a different residence status, you need your own zorgverzekering — check the current conditions on rijksoverheid.nl.
2. Register with a huisarts. Pick a practice near your home and register as a patient: without a huisarts referral you cannot see a specialist or go to hospital, except in emergencies.
3. Know whom to call. During the day, your huisarts; evenings, nights and weekends, the huisartsenpost; when life is at risk, 112. The pharmacy (apotheek) dispenses medicines on a doctor’s prescription.
4. Check zorgtoeslag. If you pay for your own insurance and your income is modest, you can apply for zorgtoeslag, a monthly contribution towards the premium from Dienst Toeslagen.

Useful pages: Which toeslag applies to you · Survey 2026 — 2 minutes