Every health insurer in the Netherlands will reimburse Saxenda since May 22, 2022. (Liraglutide) from the basic package. You must then meet some strict conditions.
Condition fee Saxenda
Below are the 7 conditions to get Saxenda reimbursed from the basic health insurance plan:
- You must be over 18 years old and under 75 years old.
- Reimbursement applies only to people with a body mass index (BMI) of 35 and above who have been participating in the combined lifestyle intervention (GLI) for at least 1 year. A GLI program, or combined lifestyle intervention, helps people modify their lifestyle by exercising more and eating healthier. With the goal of making lasting lifestyle changes.
- In addition, reimbursement applies to people with a BMI between 35 and 40 and must have 1 of 3 additional diseases that cause an extremely increased health risk associated with their weight. These diseases are:
- cardiovascular disease
- sleep apnea
- or osteoarthritis
- Reimbursement also applies to people with a BMI of 40 or higher.
- You may not have diabetes mellitus (diabetes) type 2.
- You do not (yet) qualify for surgeries such as gastric bypasses.
- Finally, a condition is that you must stop taking Saxenda if after 3 months your weight has not decreased by at least 5%.
Saxenda is first weight loss drug to be reimbursed
Saxenda is the first obesity medication to be reimbursed by health insurance companies in the Netherlands. Treatment with Saxenda costs approximately €2,600 per patient on an annual basis, so this will be reimbursed if you meet the above conditions.
The Dutch healthcare system
The healthcare system in the Netherlands is based on solidarity. Everyone has access to the same care, young and old, rich or poor and healthy or sick. We all contribute to this through taxes and contributions. Every Holland is therefore required to have basic insurance. The basic package includes good care at a reasonable price. The monthly cost of basic insurance varies by insurer. The premium averages between €110 and €140 per month.
The Netherlands Healthcare Institute contributes to good and appropriate care for every Dutch citizen. This applies to treatments that have been determined to actually work.
Following an advice from Zorginstituut Nederland in February 2022, the Minister of Health, Welfare and Sport (VWS) decided to adopt the advice to include Saxenda in the basic package and put it into effect.
