deskthority

hallo nedelanders

i need a mobile provider. and insurance.
for mobile needs, i would like about 1GB data and as few minutes as possible. sms coverage is nice but i don't particularly need it to be a great deal at this point. not looking to spend more than 30€ per month. i already have an iphone 4s and i'm not looking to switch.

for insurance... dental would be nice. i don't need glasses but i do need prescription drug coverage. i gather dutch health insurance is basically the ideal version of "obamacare" so preexisting conditions and such aren't a big deal. who's good and who's to avoid?

1)
There's a ton of "SIM only" mobile providers that offer what you ask for for 30 EUR or less. I'm quite happy with simyo.nl.
AFAIK, there are only three true network providers in the Netherlands: KPN, Vodaphone and T-Mobile. Other providers use any one of these networks. You should check the coverage in the area you live in.
KPN: http://www.coveragechecker.nl/
Vodaphone: https://www.vodafone.nl/zakelijk/suppor ... aart.shtml
T-Mobile: http://www.t-mobile.nl/service-en-conta ... kingskaart

2)
Health insurance is more difficult to grasp. There are many insurance companies that offer a plethora of different packages. Then there's the difference between a "naturapolis" and a "restitutiepolis". In the former case, you are only supposed to get treatment in certain hospitals that your ensurer has contracted (urgent treatments can be done anywhere, ofc). The latter contract form allows you to chose freely where to get treated and you get a restitution for the costs you've made. A restitutiepolis is usually more expensive.
Furthermore, most employers can give you a rebate for a certain health insurance company; that's called "collectieve zorgverzekering".

Here are two sites that compare insurance companies, in Dutch of course...
http://www.consumentenbond.nl/zorgverzekering/
http://www.independer.nl/zorgverzekering/intro.aspx

About the sim card, take a look at lebara, free sim card, prepaid, 10€ per 1GB, if you do not expect to call too much, the rates are just fine.

About insurance, check which one your workmates have, as kurk said, you may have some collective discount. In my case I'm with UMC

very cool thank you guys for the information i have a couple more folks to ask about health care plans and i will probably make a decision soon.
i wish my employer had rebates... i'll have to start bugging them about adopting a new policy

It is funny the different opinions about the Dutch health system

Personally I do not like it too much, specially coming from a way far different system (the Spanish one), which maybe it is a bit "socialist" for the American taste, but it has been traditionally quite cheap, efficient and it has provided a very wide coverage for virtually everyone.

Back to insurance companies, my employer had an agreement with Turien & Co until the end of 2013, now we have a better offer from UMC (around 15€ cheaper per month). Personally, I did not get a great impression from Turien, they were horribly slow to send me my health card (I got it when I applied for the new insurance company!).

i kind of wish that it was more socialized, to be honest, not because it would particularly be cheaper, but then i wouldn't have to bother finding coverage though it seems fairly easy. i will be signing up this week. thanks again for the info.