Early retirement abroad? New EU rule from 1 November 2026

The rules for health insurance through the CAK (the Dutch treaty-rights administrator) are changing. This affects people on early retirement or a bridging benefit who live in — or are moving to — an EU/EEA country or Switzerland. For new registrations they will no longer be entitled to CAK health insurance abroad. The change is expected to take effect on 1 November 2026.

What is this about?

The European institutions have provisionally agreed to an amendment of Annex XI to Regulation No. 883/2004, which contains the rules on health-insurance rights when emigrating (treaty rights). Registration for this insurance runs through the CAK.

What changes?

New clients living in the EU/EEA or Switzerland will only be entitled to health insurance through the CAK if they receive one of these statutory pensions or benefits:

• AOW (Dutch state pension)
• Anw (survivor benefit, SVB)
• WAO, WIA or Wajong (disability benefits)

People on early retirement or a bridging benefit, such as an RVU payment or wachtgeld, will no longer be entitled to health insurance through the CAK. They will need to arrange their own health insurance until they reach the AOW pension age.

Who does this matter for?

The new rules only apply to people on early retirement who:

• are not yet a CAK client, and
• emigrate or start early retirement on or after 1 November 2026, and
• live in or are moving to an EU/EEA country or Switzerland.

What does this mean for existing clients?

Nothing changes for people who already have CAK health insurance based on early retirement. They keep their current rights.

Emigrating on early retirement before 1 November 2026? Then the current rules still apply to you — check your situation and register with the CAK in time.