Anyone who needs specialist medical care, such as an operation, will usually lose the entire deductible – of at least 385 euros – in one fell swoop.
Once that amount has been paid, operations and other visits to the specialist are in principle free for the rest of the year. When the deductible is paid in installments, people are stimulated to think about the need for treatment.
The measure should help reduce healthcare costs. That may be the case, says the Patient Federation, but it is unclear which people will actually forego such care in order to save costs.
No difference for the chronically ill
In any case, little will change for people with a chronic condition. This concerns patients who have to be checked several times a year because of their illness or, for example, kidney patients who regularly go to the hospital for dialysis. They will still use up the full deductible.
“We think that the adjustment may be aimed at people with sports injuries. For example, someone who does not necessarily need an expensive scan, but could also start physiotherapy immediately.”
100 euros less deductible
It is expected that approximately 1 million policyholders will pay an average of 100 euros less deductible than in the current situation. There are no insured who will pay more because the total deductible remains the same.
The adjustment should also help to reduce healthcare costs and thus premiums. This is because people are stimulated to think about the need for treatment for longer than if they have already paid their full deductible after the first procedure. The measure is expected to yield 200 million euros annually.
Voluntary excess
According to the Patient Federation, there are more ambiguities surrounding the scheme. For example, whether the maximum also applies to people who opt for a higher deductible. It is also unclear whether lab research falls under the scheme.
The federation hopes that the cabinet will soon provide more details about the plan. “For the patient, clarity is important.”
Effect on patient choices
Healthcare economist Xander Koolman expects the measure to have an effect on patient choices. Not on the first visit to the hospital, but when choosing follow-up treatments.
Koolman does say that he is pleased that the so-called ‘behavioral effect’ of the deductible is now being recognised. This means that money can be cut in healthcare by focusing on how people use that healthcare. According to him, this effect was not yet recognized during the Rutte-2 cabinet.
‘New bureaucratic system’
The SP says that people may postpone a second hospital visit. And that’s bad news, because it may prevent them from getting necessary care. “Moreover, the elderly and the chronically ill do not benefit from this measure at all. They still pay the full price.”
According to the party, the cabinet opts for ‘a new bureaucratic system’, while according to the SP the deductible must disappear.
