A Messenger. The position of a health insurance company in the Netherlands

Abstract

In 2006, the Dutch health care system has changed radically. The introduction of the ‘’Zorgverzekeringswet’’ (Health Insurance Access Act) gave everyone in the Netherlands the right of access to health care and made everybody obligated to have a health care insurance. Michel Foucaults ‘governmentality’ helps understanding the health care system as carefully regulated by the Dutch government. Health insurance companies are executive agencies, pursuing governments goal of a participation society. A lack of understanding the field by the public and the differences in jobs between employees of Nova and health care providers cause a societal focus on the free market forces, while the regulation is a larger part of the system