CZ keeps health insurance premium unchanged and targets social innovation
- The premium for CZ’s most popular general insurance policy, the ‘Zorg-op-maatpolis’, will not change next year. In 2026, policyholders will pay the same monthly premium as this year: €159.99.
- Despite rising healthcare costs, CZ is able to keep the premium unchanged by drawing €57 million from its reserves and thanks to a one-off windfall in the form of a surplus in the Dutch government’s health insurance fund.
- The chair of the CZ board, Joep de Groot, calls for greater focus on social innovation. ‘Healthcare is increasingly becoming a safety net in situations where society no longer steps in. We need to look more at finding an answer to underlying problems such as loneliness and debt.’
One-off windfall
The premium that CZ charges for the ‘Zorg-op-maatpolis’ will not rise next year. This is possible because CZ has decided to dip into its reserves and had a one-off windfall. CZ’s chair of the board Joep de Groot is pleased to be a bearer of good news this year. ‘It’s great for everyone who’s insured with CZ that we can keep the premium unchanged next year, despite growing demand for healthcare and rising healthcare costs.’ But he is also realistic. ‘It’s a one-off windfall that doesn’t change the fact that healthcare costs continue to rise.’
Fundamental choices
Healthcare faces major challenges: an ageing population, growing demand for healthcare, and staff shortages are putting a massive strain on healthcare accessibility and affordability. Joep de Groot is confident that we can keep healthcare accessible if we make some fundamental choices. ‘We need to focus a lot more on the underlying causes of health problems,’ says Joep de Groot. The root causes often lie in debt, stress, poor housing or loneliness. ‘We’re used to solving people’s social support needs by referring them to healthcare, but that’s not helping people with what’s truly important for them.’
Putting quality of life first
With this in mind, Joep is advocating for a different perspective on healthcare, one where quality of life is the guiding principle. Health disparities are not solved through more healthcare, but rather by tackling the social factors causing them. ‘We have to find smart ways to work together and target social innovation, such as initiatives to combat loneliness or help people deal with debt. This will improve quality of life and make people less dependent on healthcare.’
The PlusWIJken initiative shows there’s another way
This different perspective calls for a new way of working together, close to the people in their own living environment. To do just that, CZ has joined forces with residents, healthcare professionals, local authorities and other stakeholders in the PlusWIJken initiative in the southern region of the province of Limburg. Joep: ‘It all started with GPs who saw that healthcare alone wasn’t enough. And it has meanwhile grown into an approach in twelve communities, where healthcare providers, social professionals and local residents generate solutions together. This is leading to customised solutions for residents who are in a vulnerable situation, ranging from debt help to a place to live. And sometimes a table tennis table for over-80s proves to be a very effective way to lift them out of loneliness.’
These kinds of examples show how to make a positive impact on quality of life in a community and for the people who live there. ‘But it shouldn’t stop at a few good examples,’ says Joep de Groot. ‘This approach should be rolled out in far more areas to truly make a difference. To do that, we need creativity, collaboration, and the courage to think outside the medical domain. Only then can we harness the power of society and make healthcare future-proof.’