JSIS Joint Sickness Insurance Scheme

THIS NOTICE CONCERNS MEMBERS OF THE JSIS RESIDENT IN THE NETHERLANDS, THOSE WHO ARE GOING TO LIVE THERE AND/OR THOSE WHO HAVE FAMILY OR PROFESSIONAL LINKS TO
THE NETHERLANDS
NEW SICKNESS INSURANCE IN THE NETHERLANDS
STARTING ON 1 JANUARY 2006

A new sickness insurance scheme called the “ZORGVERZEKERINGSWET” (ZVW) will come into force on 1 January 2006 and will replace all sickness insurance systems (both public and private) that have previously been in place in the Netherlands.

This new insurance is obligatory for everyone living and/or working in the Netherlands and who is insured by the AWBZ⁽¹⁾. This new insurance is partially applicable to those resident outside the Netherlands but who are insured by the AWBZ due to their taxable income in the Netherlands.

Those who are fully covered by the JSIS (staff members and their family members) are not obliged to contribute to this new insurance scheme.

All staff members in active service (as well as their family members fully covered by the JSIS) are automatically exempt from the AWBZ and will be automatically exempt from the ZVW.

All pensioners who have already received an exemption from the AWBZ (as well as their family members fully covered by the JSIS) will be automatically exempt from the ZVW.

All pensioners who have not already received an exemption from the AWBZ (as well as their family members fully covered by the JSIS) may request such an exemption via the «College voor Zorgverzekeringen» (CVZ).

On the other hand, those who have a free choice as concerns membership and who would like to ask for an exemption must introduce their request for exemption to the CVZ by 1/03/2006 at the latest.

1. WHO CAN BE EXEMPT AND WILL AUTOMATICALLY RECEIVE A CERTIFICATE FROM THE JSIS TO BE SENT TO THE CVZ OR TO OTHER OFFICIAL DUTCH ORGANISATIONS ?

1. Staff members in activity in the Netherlands and members of their family (spouse/ recognised partner, dependent children) fully covered by the JSIS
   
   Certificates proving membership of the JSIS will be sent before the end of the year to their Human Resources Department.
    
2. Pensioners residing in the Netherlands covered by the JSIS and members of their family (spouse/recognised partner, dependent children) fully covered by the JSIS
   
   Certificates proving membership of the JSIS will be sent before the end of the year to their home address in the Netherlands.
   
   Spouses/recognised partners who have a modest level of income, deriving from the AOW, may also introduce a request, via the CVZ, for exemption from the AWBZ and the ZVW.
    
3. All JSIS members of Dutch nationality living outside the Netherlands, members of their family (spouse/recognised partner, dependent children) fully covered by the JSIS).
   
   Certificates proving membership of the JSIS will be sent before the end of the year to their office address for those in activity or to their home address for pensioners.

2. WHO CAN BE EXEMPT AND MAY REQUEST A JSIS CERTIFICATE, TO BE SENT TO THE CVZ OR TO OTHER OFFICIAL DUTCH ORGANISATIONS ?
   
   All JSIS members living outside the Netherlands⁽²⁾ who are not of Dutch nationality, but who have a family member living there or who have a spouse/recognised partner of Dutch nationality (for example, a child studying in the Netherlands or a spouse/recognised partner who has received a form from the CVZ).
   
   In this case, the JSIS member may request a certificate from the JSIS for each person concerned, mentioning:
   
   - member’s staff number (activity or pension number)
   - name, forename, date of birth of the person concerned,
   - full postal address for despatch of the certificate
    

   By post:	European Commission Brussels Settlements Office Membership Team SC 27 1/16 B-1049 BRUSSELS
   By e-mail:	PMO-RCAM-BRU-ATTESTATION@ec.europa.eu - from outside PMO RCAM BRU ATTESTATION - from the office
   	Please mention in the subject line: “Dutch sickness insurance”
   By telephone:	Membership Team, +32-2-295 80 37

    
3. WHO HAS TO JOIN THIS NEW INSURANCE SCHEME (ZVW)?
   
   All spouses/recognised partners, as well as dependent children, who are not fully covered by the JSIS.
   
   In this case no certificate of coverage by the JSIS will be sent.

For further information on membership procedures of the ZVW in the Netherlands, and the corresponding contributions to be made, you may find the following Dutch websites useful:

www.denieuwezorgverzekering.nl
www.cvz.nl
www.zorgverzekeraars.nl
www.kiesbeter.nl

Footnotes

⁽¹⁾ Dutch law on exceptional medical expenses

⁽²⁾ Please consult the internet sites of the sickness insurance scheme in your country outside the Netherlands, for example, for Belgium: www.denieuwezorgverzekering.be