When have chronic illness, getting from point A to point B can be a treacherous journey. Even more so, when you are going to point B for a medical appointment or treatment. Personally, I have to save up my spoons for at least one whole day if I have to go to an appointment the next day and that is with help from my husband who dutifully drives & wheels me around. As someone who lives with hypermobile Ehlers Danlos Syndrome and a host of other chronic illnesses, I have at least 12 medical appointments a month. It is becoming difficult, expensive and tiresome to get to these.
So I started digging around the internet for options and I was surprised to find that there are quite a few. Sadly though, they cannot be found easily or even if they can, it is not easy to get access to them unless you are visibly disabled. I’ve compiled a list of options and how to get them. Please let me know if any of these work for you or if you know of any more options.
- WMO
WMO is the Social Care available through your Municipality (Gemeente). It is, in principle, for short term care needs for people who are ill (physically or mentally). It includes household help, adjustments to your home, mobility aids (this can be long term – scoot mobile, wheelchair, etc.) and transport within your city. You can find out about WMO in your city through the Gemeente’s website. In Den Haag, this is called the AV 070 service. You can apply for this online or ask for an in-home appointment through a phone call. This takes time though and will only work if you are either visibly disabled or have had an accident/surgery or have a letter from your huisarts (GP) explaining why you need this service.
It would be good to have the support of a client ondersteuner (you can ask for one from your Gemeente, or contact Stichting MEE, Client Ondersteuning Plus, Service Punt XL). You can search for a local client ondersteuner at www.clientondersteuning.co. You can also hire the services of an Ergo Therapeut through your basic insurance, who can assist you with WMO. Once you get the card for WMO transport, you can call and make an appointment in advance for your medical appointments. Please note that this will be in a van, with other passengers also having WMO transport, and you have to factor in that extra time to get to your appointment.
- Insurance
In general, insurance companies do not reimburse travel costs (including by taxi) for medical treatments anymore. However, if you are a wheelchair user or if you have a condition/chronic illness that requires transport by car or someone to support you, then you may be entitled to reimbursement. You need to first request permission by filling in an authorization form (along with your huisarts’ details and signatures). Then you can either use a regular taxi service and claim reimbursement (thought a reimbursement form) or use a service that your insurance company is contracted with, in which case the bill directly goes to the insurance. A sample can be found here at the ONVZ website.
ANWB has a scheme where for a small expense allowance, volunteers from the neighborhood will drive you in their own car if you are less mobile or have a chronic illness. The use of ANWB AutoMaatje is completely free, except for €.30 per kilometer plus any parking costs to be paid directly to the volunteer. You can contact the local ANWB AutoMaatje coordinator two days in advance.
The coordinator will look for a volunteer from the group of drivers who can drive you at the time you want. The coordinator will call you back if a driver is available and estimate the compensation based on the expected number of kilometers the volunteer will drive for you. The volunteer will be at the door at the agreed time. On a short outing, they will often stay with you. If there is a lot of time between the outward and return journey, you agree with each other when they will be ready for the return journey. ANWB Auto Maatjes is not available in all cities in the Netherlands but if you or anyone you know is interested, you can contact them to set up a network of volunteers in your city.
The Buddy Netwerk is a non-profit, volunteer run organization which connects senior citizens, people with disabilities or chronic illness with “buddies” who can spend around half a day once a week or once every two weeks. They can drive you to anywhere you want, based on the agreement you have, and you will have to compensate for the fuel costs only. Since this is a fixed person, you could benefit from consistent support if you have any type of regular appointment (such as physiotherapy).
If none of these work or even if they do and you incur costs, you can deduct them from your income tax filings, provided you have a letter from your huisarts (GP) that states you needed this transport support and you meet the threshold for your income level. You can find more information about this from your accountant, if you have one, or the Belastingdienst.
Personally, so far I have only used the Tax deduction option. However, I am currently applying for taxi reimbursement approval from my insurance, will meet my new buddy soon and hopefully, when I am a bit more stable, speak with ANWB Automaatjes to open a chapter in Den Haag. If you have found this post interesting or useful, please do share it, especially with people living in the Netherlands.
I am a burned out international lawyer & mother with Fibromyalgia and anxiety, trying to re-discover my identity.
