Which health insurance company covers Saxenda?

Below are the 7 conditions for Saxenda to be reimbursed from the basic package by the health insurance company:

1. You must be older than 18 and younger than 75 years old.
2. Reimbursement only applies to people with a BMI (Body Mass Index) of 35 and higher, who have participated in the combined lifestyle intervention (GLI) for at least 1 year. A GLI program, or combined lifestyle intervention, helps people adapt their lifestyle by exercising more and eating healthier. The goal is to achieve a lasting change in lifestyle.
3. In addition, reimbursement applies to people with a BMI between 35 and 40 who must also have 1 of 3 co-existing diseases that cause an extremely increased health risk associated with their weight. These diseases are:
   • cardiovascular disease
   • sleep apnea
   • or osteoarthritis
4. Reimbursement also applies to people with a BMI of 40 or higher.
5. You must not have type 2 diabetes mellitus.
6. You are not (yet) eligible for operations such as gastric bypass surgery.
7. Finally, a condition is that you must stop Saxenda if, after 3 months, your weight has not decreased by at least 5%.

Saxenda is the first weight loss medication to be reimbursed

Saxenda is the first anti-obesity medication in the Netherlands to be reimbursed by health insurance companies. A treatment with Saxenda costs approximately €2,600 per patient per year, which you will be reimbursed if you meet the aforementioned 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, healthy or sick. We all contribute to this through taxes and premiums. Every Dutch person is therefore obliged to take out a basic health insurance policy. The basic package provides good care at a reasonable price. The monthly costs for basic health insurance differ per insurance company. The average premium is between €110 and €140 per month.

The Dutch Healthcare Institute (Zorginstituut Nederland) contributes to good and appropriate care for every Dutch citizen. This applies to treatments that are proven to be effective.

Following advice from Zorginstituut Nederland in February 2022, the Minister of Health, Welfare and Sport (VWS) decided to adopt and implement the advice to include Saxenda in the basic package.