Long-term care in the Netherlands

Abstract

With the coming into effect of the Exceptional Medical Expenses Act (Algemene wet bijzondere ziektekosten, Awbz) in 1968, the Netherlands were seen as the first country to have introduced long-term care insurance. However, as the name of the act already indicates, the Awbz was not a long-term care insurance pur sang: entitlement to provisions did not primarily depend on the duration of the need of care. In fact, it was meant to cover the high costs of nursing, treatment and personal care that were not covered by health care insurance and that were generally not affordable by individuals. The services provided under this act included, in broad outlines: care for disabled persons, care for the chronically mentally ill, and care for the elderly. Typically, these kinds of care are most often provided for a prolonged period of time. As a part of an extensive reform in the fields of long-term care, social support, and youth care, the Awbz has been abolished as of 1 January 2015 and replaced by the Long-Term Care Act (Wlz). The personal scope of this act is restricted to persons who are in need of intensive care and support around the clock on a permanent basis.