Insurance and coverage.
What is covered?
The coverage of physiotherapy and other treatments for back pain in the Netherlands can be confusing. Here are the 6 most important facts.
Basic insurance
21e session
Only covered from session 21, and only for a condition on the chronic list
Supplementary
4-24
Covered sessions per year, depending on your package
Deductible
385EUR
Applies to specialist care, not to GP visits (2026)
The deductible amount comes from Zorginstituut Nederland. It is set again every year, so check it in the autumn if you are planning treatment for next year. How many sessions you get depends on your policy.
Physiotherapy is NOT in basic insurance
For adults (18+), physiotherapy is not covered by basic insurance for non-chronic conditions. The first 20 sessions per calendar year are self-funded or through supplementary insurance. Children under 18 do receive physiotherapy coverage from basic insurance (max 18 sessions per condition).
Supplementary insurance covers 4-24 sessions
Depending on your supplementary insurance package, you receive 4 to 24 physiotherapy sessions per calendar year. Budget packages cover 4-6 sessions; comprehensive packages up to 24. Note: some insurers require a referral even though direct access is possible.
Cost: ask for the rate list
Physiotherapy rates are not fixed by anyone, so every practice sets its own and they differ by region. A first appointment (intake plus examination) usually costs more than a follow-up. We deliberately do not put an amount here, because any figure we quoted would be a guess about your practice. Ask for the rate list before you start, and ask your insurer what it reimburses. Those two numbers are the only reliable ones.
Direct Access Physiotherapy (since 2006)
Since 2006, you can visit a physiotherapist without a GP referral. The physiotherapist screens you and determines if physiotherapy is appropriate. After 3 sessions without improvement, the physiotherapist refers you back to your GP. Note: some supplementary insurances still require a referral for coverage.
The chronic conditions list does not cover ordinary back pain
For conditions on the chronic conditions list, physiotherapy is covered by basic insurance from session 21 onwards. Non-specific low back pain is not on that list, however long it has lasted. In June 2024 the National Health Care Institute confirmed this explicitly: first-line physiotherapy and exercise therapy for back pain without a specific physical cause does not belong in the basic package, because the added benefit over no physiotherapy has not been sufficiently demonstrated. Specific diagnoses (such as certain conditions after surgery) can be a different matter; ask your provider what applies to you.
Source: Zorginstituut Nederland, standpunt 25 June 2024Switching period: November-December
Every year in November and December you can switch to a different insurer or choose a different package. If you know you need physiotherapy, it may be worthwhile to get supplementary insurance covering more sessions. Watch out for waiting periods with new insurances.
Other treatments
General practitioner
Basic insuranceFully covered by basic insurance. The deductible (eigen risico) does not apply to GP visits.
Specialist
Basic insuranceCovered by basic insurance with GP referral. Your deductible applies, which is EUR 385 in 2026.
Psychology
PartialBasic and specialized mental health care are covered with referral, but deductible applies. Waiting lists can be long.
Acupuncture
Not coveredNot covered by basic insurance. Some supplementary insurances cover a limited number of alternative medicine sessions.
Key message
Physiotherapy for back pain is not covered by basic insurance, but is often the most cost-effective treatment. Consider supplementary insurance that covers sufficient sessions. Direct access is possible without a GP referral. Check with your insurer for exact conditions.
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