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Reimbursements and schemes
Who pays for support through FamlyCare, and what about your health insurance, the werkkostenregeling (WKR) and subsidies? An honest overview, with links to the official sources.
Updated: November 2026
Who pays for support through FamlyCare?
With FamlyCare, your employer pays for the conversations with our psychologists and coaches. So you don’t need to claim anything from your health insurer, and it doesn’t come out of your eigen risico (compulsory deductible). Your employer doesn’t see what you talk about.
- Health insurance. The basisverzekering (basic health insurance) only covers mental health care with a GP referral, for a treatable mental health condition, and it counts towards your eigen risico (deductible). Conversations through FamlyCare are meant for earlier and lighter issues: stress, workload, parenthood, relationships, grief or doubt. You don’t need a referral for that.
- More serious complaints? Then our professional helps you find your way to your GP or the ggz (Dutch mental health services). FamlyCare is a complement to the ggz, not a replacement.
- Aanvullende verzekering (supplementary health insurance). A few insurers cover part of psychosocial help in their supplementary package. Conditions and amounts differ per policy. Check your policy or ask your insurer.
- Werkkostenregeling (WKR, the Dutch work-related costs scheme). In many cases, a FamlyCare plan can fall within the vrije ruimte (tax-free allowance) of the WKR. Your payroll administration assesses this and then designates the costs as eindheffingsloon (final levy wages). The targeted exemption for arbovoorzieningen (occupational health and safety provisions) only applies in specific, mandatory situations. Have your adviser assess this.
- Absence and reintegration. Is your company doctor working on an employee’s return? FamlyCare can provide support quickly, without a referral. Ask us about the options.
- Subsidies. There is no standard subsidy for psychological support for employees. For projects around sustainable employability or development there are schemes, such as the SLIM-regeling or your sector’s training and development fund, with varying application periods. The SLIM application periods for 2026 are closed. See uitvoeringvanbeleidszw.nl or your sector fund.
WKR note for employers
- The usual route is the vrije ruimte. In 2026 that is 2% of the fiscal wage bill up to €400,000, plus 1.18% of the amount above that. A FamlyCare subscription usually fits within it, alongside other allowances and benefits you already place in the vrije ruimte.
- Designating as eindheffingsloon. Your payroll administration designates the costs. If the total falls within the vrije ruimte, you pay no final levy (eindheffing) on it. Anything above the vrije ruimte is taxed at an 80% final levy.
- Arbo exemption usually doesn’t apply. Since 2022, the targeted exemption only applies to provisions that are mandatory under the Arbowet (Dutch Working Conditions Act), substantiated per employee. General wellbeing support usually falls outside it.
- Have it assessed. Whether and how it fits your situation depends on your wage bill and what’s already in the vrije ruimte. Your payroll administration or tax adviser can assess that. FamlyCare doesn’t give tax advice.
Private use
Using FamlyCare at your own expense? Then first ask whether your employer wants to contribute. Also check whether your supplementary insurance covers psychosocial help.
Sources
- Belastingdienst (Dutch Tax Administration), Werkkostenregeling: vrije ruimte, targeted exemptions and final levy.
- Belastingdienst Kennisgroep, KG:204:2024:17, gerichte vrijstelling voor arbovoorzieningen.
- Consumentenbond (Dutch consumers’ association), Vergoeding psychische hulp: basic insurance, referral and supplementary packages.
- Uitvoering van Beleid SZW, uitvoeringvanbeleidszw.nl: subsidy schemes such as SLIM.
Not advice. This page provides general information and is not tax or insurance advice. Rules and policies change every year. For your own situation, ask your health insurer, your payroll administration or your company doctor. Updated: November 2026.