Economy
Deductible to Rise Next Year, Lower House Silently Agrees
The Dutch government plans to increase the mandatory health insurance deductible by 15 euros to 400 euros annually, ending a ten-year freeze at 385 euros. Although SP leader Dijk urged Minister Hermans to reverse the hike, no parliamentary faction requested a legislative consultation to block the change, leading to silent approval. The adjustment reinstates annual indexation tied to healthcare costs, with insurers needing clarity by October 1 to set premiums for November. Previous proposals for a higher 460-euro increase or halving the deductible were abandoned due to lack of majority support or concerns over rising monthly premiums.
Ozetta summarises; the reporting is the newsroom's