2008 Netherlands Health Study Tour

September 21-26, 2008, The Netherlands

System Reform: In 2006 the Dutch health care system was transformed from a dual system of public and private coverage to a purely private system. What is the role of the government and quasi-governmental organizations in regulating the market? Will increased competition lead to financially sustainable, high quality care?

Individual Mandate:  All residents are now required to purchase a standard benefits package from private health insurers. How is the individual mandate enforced? Does the system provide sufficient subsidies for low-income individuals? How do individuals select their insurance plans?

Risk Equalization: Health insurance companies are required to enroll any applicant under an innovative risk equalization scheme. How are insurers compensated for individuals with higher risks?

Quality of Care: Does the new system of global payments to physicians and hospitals for specific inpatient diagnosis treatment combinations increase efficiency and facilitate cost and quality comparisons? How have the Better-Faster hospital quality improvement pilots improved patient safety?

The tour is offered in collaboration with the Royal Netherlands Embassy and the Ministry of Health, Welfare and Sport.

Netherlands Tour Itinerary

Photo Album

A Conversation With Dutch Health Minister Ab Klink
Health Affairs, April 8, 2008
Alain Enthoven, Marriner S. Eccles Professor of Public and Private Management emeritus, Stanford University Graduate School of Business, speaks with Dutch minister of public health, wellbeing, and sports, Ab Klink.

Universal Mandatory Health Insurance in the Netherlands: A Model for the United States?
Health Affairs, May/June 2008
Wynand P.M.M. van de Ven and Frederik T. Schut, Institute of Health Policy and Management, Erasmus University.

Related Content