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How to survive healthcare in the Netherlands as an international student

Editorial Staff International in Groningen

Health insurance, huisartsen and confusion: Paula shares how to navigate healthcare in the Netherlands as an international student.

Going to the doctor in a new country is scary enough. Now try doing it in a language you do not speak. That is the experience for many internationals in Groningen, and in this episode of International in Groningen, podcast host Sara talks to Paula from Costa Rica about navigating the Dutch healthcare system.

Paula studies the Master in Writing, Editing and Mediating and has lived in Groningen for two years. In that time, she has changed house, changed GPs (huisarts, in Dutch), and changed insurance. Like many internationals, she started with student insurance (AON). ‘It was cheap, efficient, and they paid me back every time,’ Paula says. But after getting a job, she had to switch to Dutch insurance, more expensive and more confusing. ‘One month, I just got a surprise bill of €350. No warning, no breakdown, just boom.’

Sara and Paula discuss the insurance switch, which becomes mandatory when you start working. And that is not the only challenge. Finding a GP is a quest of its own. ‘You Google, find a practice with two star reviews, translate the whole site, and then they reject you because you are still registered somewhere else,’ Paula explains. And when she finally got through the bureaucracy? ‘I cried. That actually helped.’

This leads to Paula’s main tip: advocate for yourself. Whether it is asking for blood tests, pushing for a referral to a specialist, or just getting someone to actually listen, Paula has one golden rule: ‘Make it easy for them, even though it is hard for you. If you do not speak up, nothing will happen.’

The conversation touches on culture shock too. ‘Back home, I get yearly checkups. Here, you are lucky if they agree to a blood test,’ Sara says. Paula agrees. ‘If you go in with anything short of a broken bone, they say “wait a week” and prescribe paracetamol.’

And what if you do break a bone? ‘They still say “take paracetamol,”‘ Paula laughs.

Yet, it is not all horror stories when it comes to healthcare in The Netherlands. Most doctors speak English, and some practices specifically cater to students. Government subsidies help cover insurance costs. And once you do get referred to a specialist, the care is usually solid. But it takes patience, and sometimes a Dutch speaking friend to back you up.

So, what is the conclusion? ‘You can survive healthcare in The Netherlands,’ says Paula. ‘But only if you cry, complain, and never give up.’

International in Groningen is a podcast by and for international students in The Netherlands. Hosted by Sara, each episode dives into life, struggles and culture shock in Groningen. Listen on Spotify, YouTube and via HanzeMAG.