Dutch insurance company rewards healthy lifestyles

RNW, 17 September 2012 

(de kust)

A major Dutch health insurance company has announced measures to promote a healthier lifestyle. People who quit smoking or take up sports will receive points, entitling them to a cut in their deductible. The Menzis health insurance company says it’s the first in the world to reward people who have a healthy lifestyle.

According to Menzis chairman Roger van Boxtel, “people who are fit and energetic are less likely to get sick, and they generally feel better. By encouraging prevention, we want to help cut rising health care costs.”

In an interview with the Dutch daily AD, van Boxtel explained that participants could be entitled to a 35 euro cut in their annual 220 euro deductible. Menzis says it doesn’t not plan to hire “health police officers” to check whether people have actually taken up sports. “We might carry out random checks in future,” says van Boxtel, “but for the moment, the programme will be based on trust”.