AOV insurance calculator Netherlands 2026
Estimate your ZZP income protection premium. Enter age, income, and waiting period for an instant cost estimate.
Estimate only. This calculator provides a realistic market estimate. Actual premiums from Insify or other insurers may differ by 10-20% based on your profession, health declaration, and specific coverage choices. Use this to plan your budget, then get your real Insify quote for exact pricing.
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Your AOV details
€20,000 to €200,000
Your estimated AOV cost
Monthly premium
After-tax cost
Monthly payout if disabled
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The calculator above gives an estimate. Get your real personalised quote from Insify in 2 minutes: no broker, instant online, English platform. See our Insify review for ZZP freelancers for a full breakdown.
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What is AOV insurance and why ZZP freelancers need it
AOV (Arbeidsongeschiktheidsverzekering) is income protection insurance for self-employed workers in the Netherlands. When you become a ZZP freelancer, you lose access to the employee sick pay system (loondoorbetaling). If you become ill or disabled and cannot work, your income stops immediately.
AOV fills this gap. It pays out a percentage (typically 70-80%) of your declared income until you recover or reach the state pension age of 67. Without it, even a few weeks of illness can put serious financial pressure on a freelancer without a savings buffer.
Beyond personal financial protection, approximately 78% of corporate clients in the Netherlands require proof of AOV before signing contracts. If you want to work with established companies in IT, consulting, finance, or legal sectors, having AOV is effectively a prerequisite. For more on all three ZZP insurance types, see the complete freelancer insurance guide.
How AOV premiums are calculated
AOV premiums are based on risk assessment. The four main factors are:
| Factor | Impact | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Age | High | Premiums roughly double every 10 years from age 30 |
| Income level | High | Higher insured income means higher premium (linear scaling) |
| Waiting period | Significant | 14 days costs 20% more than 1 month; 3 months costs 28% less |
| Health status | Variable | All applications include a health questionnaire. Pre-existing conditions may be excluded. |
Profession also matters for some insurers. Physical work (construction, trade) carries higher risk than knowledge work (IT, consulting, finance). Insify covers both categories but prices physical work professions higher.
Waiting period comparison
The waiting period is how long you must be ill or disabled before AOV payouts begin. Choosing the right one is a balance between premium cost and your personal financial buffer.
| Waiting period | Premium vs 1-month baseline | Best for |
|---|---|---|
| 14 days | +20% | Minimal savings buffer (under 1 month of expenses saved) |
| 1 month (recommended) | Baseline | Most freelancers, 1-2 months cash reserves |
| 2 months | -15% | Freelancers with 2-3 months of savings |
| 3 months | -28% | Freelancers with 3+ months savings buffer |
AOV vs employer sick pay: what you lose when you go freelance
When you leave employment and become a ZZP freelancer, you lose all employer-funded sick pay protections. Understanding this gap helps you see why AOV coverage is essential:
As an employee
- Employer pays 70% of salary for up to 2 years if ill
- WIA disability benefit if you cannot return after 2 years
- No premium cost to you (employer pays)
- No health questionnaire required
As a ZZP freelancer
- Zero employer sick pay
- No WIA access (for employed workers only)
- Government ZW/WIA for self-employed: minimal, long wait
- Income stops the day you cannot work, unless you have AOV
Tax deductibility of AOV premiums
AOV premiums are 100% tax-deductible as zakelijke kosten (business expenses) in Box 1. You declare them as costs in your annual income tax return (aangifte). The deduction reduces your taxable profit, which reduces the tax you owe.
At the standard 37.07% rate, a €50/month AOV premium costs you just €31.47/month after the tax benefit. At the 49.50% higher rate (income above €75,518), that same premium costs only €25.25/month effective.
If you have the 30% ruling for freelancers through a BV structure, your effective tax rate is lower, which changes the deduction calculation. Discuss the specifics with your accountant. For a guide to which insurance types are most important for your situation, see which insurance do you need.
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Frequently asked questions
How accurate is this AOV calculator?
This calculator gives a realistic market estimate based on the main factors insurers use: age, income, waiting period, and smoking status. Actual quotes from Insify or other insurers may differ by 10-20% based on your specific profession, health declaration, and chosen coverage add-ons. Use this tool to understand your rough budget and compare waiting period options before getting a real quote.
Why does age affect AOV premiums so much?
AOV (income protection) insurance covers you until age 67. The older you are when you start, the fewer years the insurer collects premiums before potentially paying out, and the higher the statistical risk of illness or disability. A 55-year-old pays roughly 3-4x more than a 30-year-old for the same coverage. This is why starting AOV insurance earlier in your freelance career saves money long-term.
What waiting period should I choose for AOV?
The waiting period is how long you must be ill before AOV starts paying out. Most financial advisors recommend 1 month as the default: it balances affordable premiums with manageable personal risk. If you have 3+ months of savings as a buffer, a 2-3 month waiting period reduces premiums meaningfully. A 14-day waiting period is more expensive but suitable if you have minimal savings and need immediate coverage.