Healthcare costs

Healthcare costs

Got an appointment at the UMC Utrecht? Then you may have some questions regarding the costs entailed. What about your healthcare invoice and your deductible? Are you properly insured for medical care? It would be prudent to check what hospitals your health insurer has signed a contract with prior to your appointment. These hospitals can be found on the website of your health insurer. Please also refer to the terms and conditions of your policy to see whether the costs of your treatment will be compensated.

Legislative amendment reimbursement of consultations uitklapper, klik om te openen

The hospital can charge for remote consultations. We would like to explain this briefly.

What is a remote consultation?

By a remote consultation we mean:

• a telephone consultation / call consultation
• e-consultation via My UMC Utrecht
• a screen-to-screen consultation / a video consultation

What has changed?

Previously, hospitals did not receive financial compensation for remote consultations.

From 1 January 2018, this will be the case due to an amendment to the law. A remote consultation is, under certain conditions, equated to a repeat outpatient clinic visit and the same rate is used.

What does this mean to you?

In consultation with your practitioner, a remote consultation has been agreed with you, usually instead of a follow-up visit at the outpatient clinic. The financial settlement is done exactly as you are used to during an outpatient clinic visit. Your health insurer will receive an invoice for the care provided.

You may be billed for this consultation by your health insurer. This depends on the state of affairs of your deductible

We would like to emphasize that this change only applies to remote consultations that you have scheduled in consultation with your doctor and that you would otherwise have come to the hospital for. If you call us to reschedule an appointment, for example, this contact does not count as a remote consultation.

If you have any questions about the above, please contact the colleagues of the Healthcare Costs team. We are happy to assist you.

teamzk@umcutrecht.nl

Healthcare invoice new style uitklapper, klik om te openen

The old healthcare invoice was littered with complicated codes. This has been changed. Henceforth, you will receive a clear, improved healthcare invoice for every treatment you undergo at the UMC Utrecht. It will show you exactly what was done, by whom, and what it costs. The healthcare invoice provides important information on the healthcare you received:

• the specialism of the person treating you
• the diagnosis
• the name of the healthcare provider
• the costs
• the medical treatments

Privacy on the healthcare invoice uitklapper, klik om te openen

The healthcare invoice features detailed information on your healthcare. This information is also sent to your health insurer. If you would rather that were not the case, e.g. in the case of sensitive information you would rather keep private, then you can use the "privacy on the healthcare invoice" scheme. In such cases, the precise examinations and treatments provided will not be specified on the healthcare invoice. The diagnosis-treatment combination (known in Dutch "DBC"), the declaration code and the consumer description will, however, be specified. 

Using the privacy on the healthcare invoice scheme

You can fill in and submit a form via the website. We will then prepare a declaration for you. This declaration will not be valid until you have signed it. Upon your next appointment at the UMC Utrecht, please go to Central Admissions in the lobby. You will be able to sign your declaration there. Please ensure you have some proof of identity on you. The scheme will commence once the form you have signed has been processed. The scheme applies to all healthcare programs that will be invoiced from that point onwards, i.e. including any future healthcare programs.

"Privacy on the healthcare invoice" form

Healthcare is usually reimbursed uitklapper, klik om te openen

Most healthcare provided at the UMC Utrecht is covered by the basic insurance. This healthcare is simply paid for by your health insurer. Just got basic insurance and no supplementary cover? Then it might be that you are required to settle certain medical expenses (or a proportion thereof) yourself.When will the healthcare not be compensated or not be compensated in full?

• If you do not have any health insurance.
• If your health insurer does not have a contract with the UMC Utrecht.
• If you do not have a letter of referral. No letter of referral is required for physiotherapy, occupational therapy, orthoptics, prenatal screening and remedial therapy.
• If the healthcare is not covered by the basic insurance (and you do not have any supplementary cover).In the case of elective medical treatment, e.g. for cosmetic or religious reasons.

Got supplementary cover? uitklapper, klik om te openen

Some hospital treatment is not covered by the basic insurance. You can take out supplementary cover for such treatment if you wish.Whether or not your treatment will be reimbursed on the grounds of the supplementary cover depends on the terms and conditions of your policy. Therefore, please check your policy or get in touch with your health insurer.

If there is no contract in place between hospital and health insurer uitklapper, klik om te openen

Each year health insurers sign contracts with a large number of healthcare providers. The UMC Utrecht has a contract with practically all health insurers, but there are some exceptions. If your health insurer does not have a contract with the UMC Utrecht, then you will have to bear the costs in full or in part. We do endeavor to avoid such situations by way of solid agreements with the health insurer. Furthermore, health insurers offer so-called "budget policies." If you have one of these budget policies, this might also mean that you will have to pay a proportion of the costs yourself. Please find below an overview of the policies that may currently preclude full reimbursement for your treatment at the UMC Utrecht:

• Basis Budget Polis from Zilveren Kruis (Achmea)
• ZieZo from Zilveren Kruis (Achmea)
• Bewuzt from VGZ
• Goede Keuze from VGZ
• ZEKUR from Univé (VGZ)
• Zorg Select from Univé (VGZ)
• NS/SPF Zorg Plan Selectief from Avéro (Achmea)
• Zorgbewust from CZ
• BudgetBewust from Menzis

Please note: This list is not definitive. It is important that you always check for yourself whether your treatment will be reimbursed. For further information on compensation, please refer to the terms and conditions of your policy and your health insurer website.

Elective treatment uitklapper, klik om te openen

Elective healthcare (e.g. cosmetic surgery, certain types of fertility treatment, circumcision) is not covered by the basic insurance. Nonetheless, it is possible to obtain supplementary cover for these things.

Your deductible uitklapper, klik om te openen

In 2016 you will be required to pay a deductible of €385 if you receive hospital healthcare that is reimbursed under the basic insurance. This deductible is mandatory for anyone aged 18 years or over and will come into effect on the day you turn 18. This means that in a given calendar year you will always have to pay the first 385 euro of healthcare covered by the basic insurance yourself. In addition to this mandatory deductible, it could be that you have agreed a voluntary deductible with your health insurer. The higher your voluntary deductible, the lower your health insurance premiums will be.

Morgue costs uitklapper, klik om te openen

For patients who pass away at the UMC Utrecht, we will provide the initial preparation of the body. We can also provide further care, such as placement on the bier and storage of the body, but we are not obliged to do so. This means that the next of kin will be invoiced afterwards.The invoice will pertain to costs incurred from three hours after the patient's passing. This is governed by nationwide regulations.

You require a letter of referral uitklapper, klik om te openen

It may be that you do not have a valid letter of referral when you come in to the hospital. If that is the case, then it could be that you have to pay for the treatment yourself or that you will only be treated once you have obtained the correct letter of referral. Ordinarily the letter of referral is obtained from your family doctor. Nevertheless, other healthcare providers or medical specialists may also be the referring party. A letter of referral is valid for one year.

If you are not insured uitklapper, klik om te openen

Everyone residing or working in the Netherlands is obliged by law to take out health insurance. If you are not insured, then you will still need to take out basic insurance cover. If you fail to do so, you will have to pay the full costs of the treatment yourself. In such cases, you will always be required to pay the anticipated costs in advance, prior to your first appointment.

How much will my treatment cost? uitklapper, klik om te openen

The diagnosis, treatment and costs have been charted for every type of healthcare issue. Healthcare programs are set out in "diagnosis-treatment combinations" (DBCs in Dutch). The costs of the DBC codes featured on your healthcare invoice can be found on the website of the Nederlandse Zorg Autoriteit (Netherlands Healthcare Authority).

Nederlandse Zorg Autoriteit (NZA)

If your treatment at the hospital is not compensated, a set price will apply: the "passer-by rate." These rates are set annually. The price of your treatment at the UMC Utrecht can be found on the passer-by price list below. Please pay close attention to the period in which your healthcare program commenced. Any questions? Search below for the outpatient clinic you wish to call or call +31 (0)88 75 555 55 and ask to be connected to the right outpatient clinic.

Centers, outpatient clinics and wards (Dutch language only)

Who is responsible for the costs of my treatment? uitklapper, klik om te openen

You yourself are responsible for the costs of your treatment. If your treatment is not compensated or not compensated in full by your insurer, then the UMC Utrecht will send an invoice for the healthcare provided to your home address. You will need to settle this invoice yourself. Therefore, please do check beforehand whether the treatment will be compensated (in full or in part). Your health insurer will be able to inform you on this.

I have a question regarding my healthcare invoice. Were do I need to be? uitklapper, klik om te openen

Please contact the UMC Utrecht's Invoicing & Accounts Receivable department.
Opening hours
Monday to Friday from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. and from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. (except on public holidays).
T.  +31 (0)88 75 589 45
E.  faktdeb@umcutrecht.nl

Please contact your health insurer if you:

• would like to know whether your treatment will be reimbursed
• have any questions regarding the terms and conditions of your policy