No increase in healthcare deductibles next year

For the first time in years, healthcare deductibles will not be increasing. Next year, patients will still pay the first 385 euros of their hospital bills and medication, sources in The Hague told broadcaster NOS. Over the past years the healthcare deductibles increased quite significantly. In 2012 it was still 220 euros. It increased to 350 euros the next year. The deductibles are intended to discourage unnecessary visits to hospital in an effort to keep healthcare costs down. But according to a number of political parties, in reality it only means that people don't go to the hospital when they need to because they can't afford it. GroenLinks, PVV and SP all advocated that the healthcare deductibles be scrapped