Physiotherapy and the Dutch basic insurance

Physiotherapy falls under the Dutch basic health insurance (basisverzekering) only for the conditions and treatment durations listed in Annex 1 of Article 2.6 of the Besluit zorgverzekering. The decree defines physiotherapy by referring to the professional practice described in that annex, and it deliberately omits any amounts because the government sets the covered care, while the insurer determines the reimbursement in the policy conditions. For a plain-language explanation of these provisions, see the Dutch pages on physiotherapy under the Besluit zorgverzekering.

What falls under physiotherapy according to the Besluit zorgverzekering?

The Besluit zorgverzekering is a general administrative order (algemene maatregel van bestuur) that specifies the contents of the basic insurance package under the Zorgverzekeringswet. Article 2.6 of this decree describes physiotherapy as care provided by a physiotherapist as referred to in the BIG register, and it limits coverage to the conditions listed in Annex 1. The decree does not define physiotherapy in a single sentence; instead, it points to the professional scope and then enumerates the situations in which the basic insurance pays. That means a treatment is covered only if the patient's condition appears in Annex 1 and the treatment stays within the duration stated there. The decree also distinguishes between physiotherapy that is covered from the first session and physiotherapy that requires a referral or a chronic condition. For the full legal text, the Besluit zorgverzekering is published on wetten.overheid.nl.

Which conditions and treatment durations are in Annex 1 of Article 2.6?

Annex 1 of Article 2.6 lists specific conditions and the maximum number of treatment sessions or the period during which physiotherapy is covered. The list includes, for example, certain neurological conditions such as Parkinson's disease and multiple sclerosis, where coverage may continue as long as the condition persists. It also includes temporary conditions such as a recent ankle sprain or recovery after a fracture, where the number of sessions is limited. The annex groups conditions by type: neurological, orthopaedic, cardiovascular, and others. For each group, the decree states either a maximum number of sessions per year or a time frame, such as six months after surgery. The exact durations are set out in the annex itself, and they are not repeated in the main body of the decree. A patient or referrer can check the annex to see whether their diagnosis falls under the basic insurance and how many sessions are available. The annex is updated periodically, so the version in force on the date of treatment is the one that applies.

Why does the Besluit zorgverzekering not state amounts for physiotherapy?

The Besluit zorgverzekering does not mention amounts because it is a decree that defines the content of the basic insurance package, not the prices paid for that care. The Zorgverzekeringswet sets the framework for the basic insurance, and the decree specifies which care must be included. The actual reimbursement, including any co-payment or maximum amount per session, is determined by the health insurer in the policy conditions and in contracts with care providers. The Dutch Healthcare Authority (NZa) sets rules for tariffs and performance descriptions, but those rules are not part of the Besluit zorgverzekering. This separation allows the government to define covered care without fixing prices in the same document. For a patient, the practical consequence is that the basic insurance covers physiotherapy for the conditions in Annex 1, but the amount reimbursed per session may vary between insurers and policies. The decree therefore answers the question of what is covered, while the insurer answers the question of how much is paid.

How does the basic insurance decide on physiotherapy for a specific patient?

For a specific patient, the basic insurance covers physiotherapy only if three conditions are met: the patient has a condition listed in Annex 1 of Article 2.6, the treatment is provided by a physiotherapist registered in the BIG register, and the treatment stays within the duration or session limit in the annex. The physiotherapist usually checks the diagnosis against the annex and informs the patient whether the basic insurance applies. If the condition is not listed, the patient may still receive physiotherapy, but it will be paid out of pocket or through supplementary insurance. Some policies require a referral from a general practitioner or medical specialist before the first session. The insurer may also ask for a treatment plan that states the diagnosis and the expected number of sessions. The basic insurance does not cover physiotherapy for conditions that are not in the annex, even if the treatment is medically necessary. That is why the annex is the central document for patients and practitioners alike.

What documents should a patient check?

A patient who wants to know whether physiotherapy is covered should check four documents: the Besluit zorgverzekering, especially Article 2.6 and Annex 1; the policy conditions of their health insurer; the BIG register to confirm the physiotherapist's registration; and the website of the Dutch Healthcare Authority (NZa) for tariff and performance rules. The Besluit zorgverzekering is available on wetten.overheid.nl. The policy conditions are provided by the insurer. The BIG register is accessible via the website of the Dutch Ministry of Health, Welfare and Sport. The NZa publishes its rules on nza.nl. These documents together answer the questions of what is covered, by whom, for how long, and at what reimbursement. The decree itself does not provide amounts, so the policy conditions are the place to find the financial details. Patients who want to verify the legal basis for coverage can read the decree alongside the policy conditions and the annex.

How does the Dutch approach compare with England?

In England, physiotherapy is generally available through the National Health Service (NHS) and is free at the point of use, but access depends on referral and waiting lists. The Dutch basic insurance covers physiotherapy only for the conditions in Annex 1 of the Besluit zorgverzekering, and for other conditions the patient pays or uses supplementary insurance. Both systems separate the definition of covered care from the payment mechanism, but they do so in different documents. In England, the NHS Constitution and the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) guidelines set out what is available, while in the Netherlands the Besluit zorgverzekering and the Zorgverzekeringswet do so. For a reader in England, the Dutch example shows how a basic insurance package can be defined by a decree that lists conditions and durations but leaves amounts to insurers. That structure is relevant to discussions about care and support because it shows one way to decide what is publicly funded and what is not. The Dutch pages on debremstraat.nl provide a Dutch-language explanation of these rules for patients and readers who want to check dates, documents, and a glossary.

Sources read for this page: wetten.overheid.nl, read on 15 September 2026.