Special Kids treatment for Expats

Hi again.

All medical insurance is private, the Government do not pay for any of it.  The cover you get very much depends on your Medical Insurance policy and the cover you pay for.  I strongly recommend that you ask if the things you are particularly interested in are covered by the policy and whether the specifics you're asking about here are covered, also whether you have to pay extra.

Assuming you can afford it, I wouldn't worry about the services you ask about are provided, the Netherlands has excellent healthcare provision.

Hope this helps.

Cynic
Expat Team

Thanks.

Do you have any idea about the special child centers in NL where we can do some inquiry and also ask for the exact insurance plans for such cases?

Thanks in advance.

Hi again.

A couple of points for consideration:

Which supplier you go to is entirely up to you; however, your employer may have an arrangement with one of them where you may get a discount - ask your employer.

There is a website that lists all of the various Netherlands based suppliers; this link will take you there.

Whether your child needs any specific treatment will be decided by your GP, you don't get to choose - it is generally the cheapest supplier of the treatment required - if you want to go elsewhere, or seek alternative treatments not covered by your policy, then that is all down to you; so you register with the Gemeente on arrival (within 5 working days), part of the process allocates you a BSN number, once you have that you will be able to buy your health insurance and amongst other things, register with a doctor.

Your children will be covered by either your, or your wife's policy for free.

Hope this helps.

Cynic
Expat Team

"children will be covered by either your, or your wife's policy for free."
Ohh that's gr8.

What other benefits do we get from the NL government for kid care?

Hi again.

Childcare - is complicated and you both have to be working to get it; it's basically a retrospective discount from your tax.  This link will take you to the Belastingdienst website with the outline of the details.

There is also child benefit (kinderbijslag); this link takes you to the SVB website with the current rates.

Hope this helps.

Cynic
Expat Team

oh, that's gr8.

These child benefits (kinderbijslag) are also applicable to expats?
and what is the process to avail these benefits?

Hi again.

Yes, everyone who is living and working in the Netherlands and has entitled children are entitled; this link will take you to the page where you can claim.

Hope this helps.

Cynic
Expat Team

thanks for sharing such information.

But for special kids, NL has a good treatment environment in hospitals or centers?

Hi again.

We all think our kids are special; assuming you mean children with special needs, then yes, the Netherlands has excellent provision for these children.  With regards to special needs education, this link will probably explain better than I can.

Hope this helps.

Cynic
Expat Team

Hello
Special kids mean not like normal kids. These kids have some difficulties in learnings like developmental disorder characterized by difficulties with social interaction and communication.
Do u get my point?

Hi again.

Yes, I get your point; we call them special needs children in English.  My previous links and answers are relevant to these children.

Your information tells me that you're from India; I'm not sure how it works there, but in many European countries, special needs children now use ordinary schools with teachers being specially trained in knowing how to help them.

If you read my previous link, then if you have any further specific questions, please come back to us.

Hope this helps.

Cynic
Expat Team

Yes, I got it. Thanks, I think i missed that link. Good info for me.
But these special needs schools are government-funded for free of cost for all or they charge some fees?
How expensive these schools are?
Do we need separate insurance for special kids to cover all these?

Hi again.

You take your child to the normal state school, where they will assess whether he/she can be helped at that school; if not they will refer you to someone who can help; there is no charge for state schools in the Netherlands.

Fees are only applicable if you take your child out of the state education system, you will get no help from the Government should you decide to do that.  Private schools are very expensive, only the rich, or those with a boss who pays can afford it.

In case you are considering it, home education is not permitted in the Netherlands; you can get into a lot of trouble if you do not send your child to school.

There is no special insurance, neither can they exclude you for current conditions.

Hope this helps.

Cynic
Expat Team

Hello again,

As you said earlier that the normal state school will assess whether a special kid can be helped at that school; if not they will refer you to someone who can help.
Where do they refer exactly if the state school will not help us, to private school or private doctors?
Are these treatments/therapies also covered under government funds?
Also, special kids will be covered by either mine or my wife's policy for free?

Thanks in advance.

Hi again.

To be honest, I don't know where they refer you and I suspect it's the kind of subject where the answer will depend on your child and the school.  I suspect that any referral will be to a state solution, not private because that's the way the Dutch do things.  Should you wish or choose to go private, then any costs you incur will be down to you.

Medical treatments and therapies where they are essential are generally covered by your medical insurance policy; non-essentials (the assessor decides, not you) are not.  I have experienced where my opinion on medical matters and those of the assessors have differed, I've never won.

Which policy - I don't know, I've never experienced it; it may vary from different suppliers, so you should ask your Insurer.

Whatever, as this is an extremely important matter, I do strongly recommend that you go to the Netherlands and do some investigation yourself before you decide to make the move.

Hope this helps.

Cynic
Expat Team