Press Release: State aid: Commission endorses EUR 15 billion public funding for new Dutch health insurance system

The European Commission on 3 May 2005 authorised under its state aid rules public funding for a fundamental reform of the health insurance system in the Netherlands. The objective of the reform was to guarantee access for all citizens while promoting efficiency and financial sustainability in health care provision. To this end, the authorities were planning to set up a risk equalisation system between insurers and support the transformation of the system by granting startup capital to certain insurers. The Commission considered that the aid did not distort competition to an extent contrary to the common European interest and could therefore be authorised.