Benefits and health insurance
CAK boete onverzekerd
Uninsured health insurance fine
What does CAK boete onverzekerd mean?
The CAK runs the regeling onverzekerden, the scheme for people who must have Dutch health insurance but do not. If records show you are uninsured, the CAK sends a letter giving you 3 months to take out a policy or prove you are exempt. If you do not, you receive a fine of €529.74, and a second one if you still do nothing. After that, the CAK takes out a policy for you and deducts a higher premium from your income.
Key facts
| Time to respond | 3 months from the CAK letter |
| Fine per violation (2026) | €529.74 |
| Maximum in fines | €1,059.48 (two fines) |
| After two fines | CAK insures you and deducts a higher premium at source |
What to do
- Read the letter carefully and note the date. The 3 months run from there.
- If you are not insured yet, take out a Dutch basic policy now and send the CAK proof.
- If you think you do not need Dutch insurance (for example you are posted from another EU country with an A1), send the CAK your evidence within the 3 months.
- If you already have a policy, check your insurer has your correct BSN. A missing BSN link is a common cause of these letters.
- Keep in mind that a new policy is backdated to the date you became obliged to insure, so those premiums are owed too.
Worth knowing
Two different clocks are easy to confuse. You must insure within 4 months of becoming obliged to (for example when your permit takes effect or you start paid work), and that policy is backdated. The CAK's 3 months only start once its letter arrives, and missing them is what triggers the fine.
Frequently asked questions
How much is the CAK fine for being uninsured?
€529.74 per fine in 2026. You can receive two fines, €1,059.48 in total. The amount is indexed every year.
I am already insured. Why did I get a CAK letter?
Usually because your insurer does not have your BSN yet, or the policy started after the CAK checked. Send the CAK proof of insurance and ask your insurer to confirm your BSN is registered.
What happens after two fines?
The CAK takes out a basic policy for you with an insurer and deducts the premium from your salary or benefit for 12 months, at a rate higher than a normal premium.
Read next
Official sources
More Dutch terms: benefits and health insurance
Plain-English explanations of the words on your letters and contracts.