When heb je not entitled meer op healthcare benefit?

What is healthcare benefit precies?

Healthcare benefit is a benefit from the Belastingdienst (Dutch tax authority)/Toeslagen aimed at helping people with lower income pay for their health insurance. The benefit is income-dependent: the lower your income, the higher the healthcare benefit you can receive. If your income rises above a certain limit, you are no longer entitled.

Healthcare benefit is paid out as a monthly advance based on your estimated income. At the end of the year, the Belastingdienst (Dutch tax authority) settles based on your actual income. If you have received too much, you have to pay back — sometimes a substantial amount.

De income limits for healthcare benefit in 2026

The Belastingdienst sets the income limits each year. For 2026 the following limits apply (assessable income (toetsingsincome)):

Are you just below the limit? Keep in mind that a pay rise, a benefit payment, overtime or an extra job can push your assessable income above the limit. Always check this in time via My Benefiten.

The assets limit: your savings also count

Many people don't know that your savings and investments (box 3 wealth) also affect your healthcare benefit. If on 1 January of the benefit year you have more wealth than the allowed limit, you are not entitled to healthcare benefit — even if your income is low.

The wealth of any benefit partner is fully included. If your partner has substantial savings, this can cause you to lose entitlement to healthcare benefit — even if you yourself have little.

When does your entitlement to healthcare benefit end?

There are several situations in which your entitlement to healthcare benefit automatically ends or can be stopped:

1. Income rises above the limit

The most common reason. If you get a pay rise, a new job with a higher salary, or start as a self-employed person with more turnover, your assessable income can exceed the limit. The Belastingdienst discovers this at the final settlement — and you have to pay back the advance you received too much.

2. Wealth above the limit

As described above: if on 1 January of the benefit year you have more box 3 wealth than allowed, you are not entitled to healthcare benefit for that entire year.

3. You krijgt een benefit partner

Are you moving in together, getting married or entering a registered partnership? Then your partner's income and wealth count too. If your combined income or wealth exceeds the limit, ends your entitled to healthcare benefit. Always report changes in your living situation directly via My Benefiten.

4. You emigrate or live abroad temporarily

Healthcare benefit is only for people insured in the Netherlands. If you leave for abroad or are continuously outside the Netherlands for longer than a certain period, your entitlement ends. This also applies if you deregister from the BRP (Personal Records Database).

5. No basic insurance anymore

Healthcare benefit is linked to your Dutch basic insurance. If you cancel your health insurance — even temporarily — you are not entitled to healthcare benefit for that period. In addition, you risk a fine from the CAK.

6. You fall under a scheme from your employer

Did your employer pay your entire health insurance premium via an allowance or collective scheme? Then the Belastingdienst (Dutch tax authority) can determine that you are not entitled to healthcare benefit. This applies particularly to certain categories of government personnel.

Received too much healthcare benefit: what now?

Each year the Belastingdienst (Dutch tax authority) sends a definitive calculation of your benefits — the definitive allocation. If it turns out that you have received too much (because your income or wealth was higher than estimated), you receive a reclaim decision. You have to pay back this amount.

What can you do to prevent this? Adjust your income estimate via My Benefiten as soon as you know your income is rising. You can also stop the benefit yourself. This prevents a large amount being suddenly reclaimed.

Adjusting your income estimate: how it works

Via My Benefiten (benefits.nl, inloggen met DigiD) you can your income estimate op elk moment to adjust. Doe dit altijd:

• Als you een nieuwe baan krijgt met een hoger salaris
• Als you als zzp'er meer omzet expect than eerder geschat
• Als you gaat living together of getting married
• Als you een uitkering receive who do not eerder was meegerekend
• Als your partner alimony verandert

De aanpassing gaat niet met retroactive. Hoe eerder you het doorgeeft, hoe kleiner de kans op een grote reclaim achteraf.

Healthcare benefit stoppen: wanneer and hoe?

Denkt you dat you this year actually no is entitled to healthcare benefit? Stop the benefit than yourself tijdig. Dat can via My Benefiten — you selecteert het benefit year and stopt the benefit per de lopende month. Not sure? Then you can also your income estimate verhogen naar een amount boven de grens; the benefit is than automatisch op nul gezet.

Healthcare benefit and tax return: de samenhang

Your entitled to healthcare benefit and de uiteindelijke hoogte worden definitief vastgesteld na your tax return. De Belastingdienst gebruikt your definitieve aggregate income (zoals dat from de tax return volgt) als assessable income for youw benefits.

Dit betehas dat een correcte tax return direct from invloed is op your benefits. Aftrekposten who you vergeet — zoals healthcare costs, giften of mortgage interest deduction — can your aggregate income verlagen. Dat can er op zijn beurt for zorgen dat you (alsnog) is entitled to healthcare benefit, of dat your benefit hoger uitvalt than expect.

Andersom geldt ook: extra income of een correctie from the Belastingdienst (Dutch tax authority) op eerder ingediende tax returnn can your assessable income verhogen and reclaim from healthcare benefit veroorzaken.

Praktische tips om problemen to prevent

• Keep your income estimate current — adjust it as soon as your situation changes, also mid-year.
• Always file your tax return on time — a late or incorrect tax return can lead to a higher definitive allocation and reclaim.
• Check your benefit partner — when living together the income and wealth of your partner count. People forget this regularly.
• Note box 3 wealth on 1 January — if at the end of December you have a large sum in your account, this counts for the new benefit year.
• Keep your decisions — for objections or queries you need the original allocation decisions.
• Have your tax return checked — a missed deduction can make your assessable income unnecessarily high, with the result that you don't get healthcare benefit while you are actually entitled.

Need help with benefits or tax return?

The connection between your tax return and your benefits is unclear to many people. A mistake in your tax return can have an impact for months on your healthcare benefit, rent benefit or child-related budget. We help residents of Zaanstad — in Zaandam, Krommenie, Assendelft and surroundings — to get this right.

Whether it's your annual income tax return, applying for a preliminary tax refund for your owner-occupied home, or checking that your benefits are correct: we do it for you. Fixed price, no surprises.