Deductible for a work accident: do you get it reimbursed?

the deductible you pay for the treatment of injuries following a workplace accident yourself: it is an item of damage that you recover from the employer who breached their duty of care (Article 7:658 of the Dutch Civil Code). Just like your other healthcare costs, the deductible falls under the damages that the liable party must compensate (Article 6:96 of the Dutch Civil Code). Your health insurer first pays for the treatment under the basic insurance, you advance the mandatory deductible, and you subsequently claim that amount back from the liable employer or their insurer. Therefore, you are not left with those costs on balance.

The short answer

• What you get back: the mandatory deductible that your health insurer charges you for the treatment of your injury, plus all non-reimbursed healthcare costs.
• When: as soon as the employer is liable for the accident based on their duty of care (Article 7:658 of the Dutch Civil Code) — so in the case of a recoverable case, you do not pay the deductible yourself.
• How much: the statutory deductible is a fixed amount per calendar year (a maximum of 385 euros in 2026); if your treatment extends beyond the annual end, it can be claimed over two years.
• Costs of assistance: none in a recoverable case; the costs of a personal injury lawyer are recovered from the liable party (Article 6:96 paragraph 2 of the Dutch Civil Code).

What exactly is the deductible?

The mandatory deductible is the amount you pay yourself each calendar year before your health insurer reimburses care under the basic insurance. In 2026, that statutory maximum is 385 euros. If you have also voluntarily agreed to a higher deductible in exchange for a lower premium, that extra amount counts as well. If you visit a hospital, a specialist, or a physiotherapist outside the supplementary coverage following a work accident, the health insurer will first claim that deductible.

Visits to the general practitioner are exempt from the deductible, but virtually all follow-up care after an injury — diagnostics, an emergency room visit, surgery, medication — are covered by it. As a result, your deductible is quickly used up in the event of serious injury. You will not automatically receive this money back from your insurer; you claim it from the party that caused the accident.

Why you don't have to bear the deductible yourself

If your employer is liable for the accident, he must compensate you for all damages you suffer as a result. The core principle is found in Article 7:658 of the Dutch Civil Code: the employer must ensure a safe workplace, proper tools, and good instructions. If this is not achieved and you are injured, it is presumed that he breached his duty of care, unless he proves otherwise. This burden of proof, favorable to you, means that most workplace accidents are recoverable.

The damages to be compensated include not only your loss of income and pain and suffering, but also your medical expenses — and consequently the deductible you pay in advance. Legally, this is financial loss resulting directly from the accident; you recover it together with the rest of your claim. The general basis for recovering these costs lies in compensation for unlawful or attributable conduct (Articles 6:162 and 6:96 of the Dutch Civil Code). You can read the statutory texts at wetten.overheid.nl.

This is how the recovery of healthcare costs and deductibles works

The flow of money regarding your medical expenses usually takes place in fixed steps:

1. Your health insurer reimburses the treatment under the basic insurance.
2. You pay the deductible that the insurer charges you for this.
3. You collect the evidence: the statement of your deductible, invoices, and proof of payment for healthcare costs that were not covered by your insurance.
4. A personal injury lawyer includes those items in the liability claim and claims them from the employer or their general liability insurer.
5. The liable party reimburses the deductible and other healthcare costs as part of your total damages.

In addition, your health insurer can itself recover the treatment costs reimbursed by it from the liable party (recourse). This takes place in the background and does not affect your claim: you only recover what you have paid yourself, such as the deductible.

Which healthcare costs can you claim in addition to the deductible?

The deductible is often just the tip of the iceberg. In the event of a workplace accident, these medical items are also included in your claim:

• Physiotherapy and rehabilitation exceeding the number of treatments covered by your supplementary insurance;
• Assistive devices such as a brace, crutches, arch supports, or a wheelchair;
• Home adaptations you need due to the injury, from grab bars to a stairlift;
• Travel expenses to doctors, the hospital, and therapists;
• Medicines and dressings that are not reimbursed or only partially reimbursed.

Do you have permanent injury, loss of income, or a right to compensation for pain and suffering in addition to healthcare costs? Then also check out our explanation regarding for pain and suffering (Article 6:106 of the Dutch Civil Code). A complete overview of all types of damage can be found in our blog on compensation.

Deductible in two calendar years

A common misconception is that you only have to pay the deductible once. If your treatment extends into the turn of the year—for example, surgery in December and rehabilitation in January—your insurer may claim the deductible in both calendar years. In the event of a long recovery, you may therefore pay that amount twice. These double costs also constitute damage caused by the accident and belong in your claim. Therefore, keep good records of your annual statements so that not a single euro falls through the cracks.

Deductible, wages and the broader financial question

The deductible is one part of a larger question: who ultimately pays what after a workplace accident? You can read how your continued salary payment, your employer's liability insurer, and loss of earning capacity relate to each other in our blog post " Accident at work: who pays". This page focuses specifically on your healthcare costs and the deductible; that article covers the full financial aspect. If you want to know the best steps to take and what an employer is legally required to arrange, please visit the hub page on workplace accidents.

Honest recommendation

Is it only a matter of your deductible for minor injuries from which you recover quickly, and is there no other residual damage? In that case, you can often settle that amount directly with your employer and do not need a personal injury lawyer. Are you unsure whether the employer is liable, or are healthcare costs piling up due to loss of income, permanent injury, or a long recovery period? Then professional help is almost always advisable. An independent personal injury expert will calculate your damages in full — including items you might easily overlook yourself — and your employer's general liability insurer simply represents the employer's interests, not yours. In a recoverable case, this assistance costs you nothing, because the costs are recovered from the liable party (Article 6:96 paragraph 2 of the Dutch Civil Code). You can also find independent information about your rights at De Letselschade Raad.

Do you want to know if you can recover your deductible and healthcare costs? Schedule a free consultation or request a free intake . Our personal injury firm will assess your case free of charge and claim your maximum compensation. In the event of legal proceedings, we engage a personal injury lawyer; for recovering your healthcare costs out of court, a specialized personal injury legal expert is usually sufficient.

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