The Consumer & Market Authority (ACM) and the Dutch Healthcare Authority (NZa) have investigated the differences between basic policies in 2018. The research shows that (healthcare) consumers find it difficult to choose a healthcare policy on the one hand, and very difficult to make a final choice on the other. Does the same apply to you? Do you now feel you have the best health insurance for your personal situation?
Did you know that some 9.8 million premium payers chose a particular healthcare policy this year when there were cheaper/better-fitting alternatives? Conclusion of this survey: comparing and choosing a healthcare policy should be made easier!
Too large an offer
Because the range of policies available is so large, you have to compare a lot. When policies are also presented differently but come out equal or very similar from the analysis, it becomes even more difficult to choose the right health insurance.
The choice process: a true maze
Besides the excessive range of policies, other obstacles affecting the choice process come up during the survey. These include the time and effort it takes to choose the right policy and difficult to find or confusing information. In addition, there is often an (unjustified) fear of not being reimbursed the same with one policy as with another. This ultimately leads to not taking action or not choosing the right policy and paying more than necessary. Do you recognise yourself in this?
Is more transparency the solution?
The Consumer & Market Authority (ACM) and the Dutch Healthcare Authority (NZa) believe that more transparency about policies contributes positively to the choice process, but this is not nearly enough! This requires additional measures, such as simplifying the offer. You should be hindered as little as possible in your choice and it should be made as easy as possible! We very much hope that the ACM and NZa will get it through and that there will indeed be more transparency in the process of choosing new health insurance.
Note: it is always wise to check every year whether your current insurance is still the best choice for you. Health insurers often change conditions in policies. So NEVER assume you are GOOD insured.
The study
ACM and NZa used algorithms to examine the supply of basic policies in 2016, 2017 and 2018. Using so-called machine learning, the 55 policies of 2018 were grouped into 10 clusters. Within each cluster of (almost) identical policies, premium differences were mapped. In 2018, 72% of premium payers did not have the cheapest policy in the cluster. There may be good and not so good reasons for this. It is possible that people pay more because, for instance, they value the brand of the policy or choose based on features not included in the analysis.
SOURCE: https://www.acm.nl/nl/publicat