Avoiding Care in The Hague: Definitions and Explanations
In The Hague, **avoiding care** refers to intentionally or unintentionally skipping essential medical or social support—often due to financial constraints, mental barriers, or social obstacles. In a diverse city like The Hague, where vulnerable groups such as expats and low-income families reside, this issue plays a significant role within the Dutch social security framework. This article explores the definitions of avoiding care, with a focus on legal frameworks and local implications for Hague residents.
What Is Avoiding Care?
Avoiding care describes situations where residents neglect necessary care—from routine GP visits to advanced therapy or long-term support. In The Hague, this may involve skipping appointments at local clinics or discontinuing specialist care at hospitals like HagaZiekenhuis. The Centraal Bureau voor de Statistiek (CBS) defines it as 'not utilizing accessible care due to various obstacles.' Unlike broader healthcare accessibility issues, which are often systemic, avoiding care stems from personal choices, such as fear or lack of awareness about local resources.
Different sectors use their own definitions. The National Institute for Public Health and the Environment (RIVM) defines it in healthcare contexts as 'delaying or skipping care appointments due to financial or non-financial barriers.' This differs from structural problems and links to social security, where avoiding care can worsen health outcomes and increase long-term costs for the Municipality of The Hague.
Legal Framework of Avoiding Care
The legal foundations for avoiding care in the Netherlands—including The Hague—rest within the social security system. The Health Insurance Act (Wfz), outlined in Book 2 of the Dutch Civil Code (articles 262 et seq.), mandates that everyone must have basic insurance to ensure care accessibility. Avoiding care is implicitly addressed in rules regarding excess payments and subsidies; Article 22 Wfz requires insurers to provide care, but financial thresholds can lead to debt and further avoidance among Hague residents.
The former General Act on Exceptional Medical Expenses (AWBZ), now the Long-Term Care Act (Wlz), plays a key role. Under the Wlz (articles 1.1.1 et seq.), avoiding care can affect eligibility assessments, potentially delaying or denying support. The Participation Act (art. 7-18) ties it to participation requirements, obliging welfare recipients in The Hague to utilize care for better health outcomes. European law, such as Directive 2011/24/EU, promotes accessibility, but national definitions apply locally. The Ministry of Health, Welfare and Sport (VWS) views avoiding care under the Public Health Act (Wpg, art. 1) as a threat to public health in cities like The Hague. Case law from the District Court of The Hague and the Central Appeals Board (CRvB, e.g., ECLI:NL:CRVB:2018:1234) classifies it as 'non-contributory behavior' that may jeopardize benefits.
Types of Avoiding Care
In The Hague, various forms of avoiding care often overlap. Below is an overview tailored to the urban context:
- Financial avoidance: Skipping care due to costs, such as excess payments or uninsured treatments. See our article on Avoiding Care Due to Financial Barriers in The Hague.
- Psychological avoidance: Caused by fear, stigma, or depression, common among mental health challenges in a bustling city.
- Logistical avoidance: Issues with accessibility, such as heavy traffic or public transport delays in The Hague, unlike rural areas.
- Cultural avoidance: Among diverse groups, such as migrants in neighborhoods like Schilderswijk, due to language or cultural norms.
For a local comparison:
| Type | Cause | Legal Relevance | Example in The Hague |
|---|---|---|---|
| Financial | Costs, excess payments | Wfz Art. 22 | Skipping a local dentist due to €385 excess payment |
| Psychological | Fear, stigma | Wlz eligibility assessment | Avoiding therapy at Riagg due to shame |
| Logistical | Transport, distance | Participation Act | Not visiting HagaZiekenhuis due to tram delays |
| Cultural | Language, norms | Wpg public health | Migrants in Transvaalwijk avoiding mental healthcare due to unfamiliarity |
Practical Examples of Avoiding Care
Consider a single parent in The Hague on minimum wage who skips a GP visit because their excess payment limit has been exhausted by medication. This common financial pattern can worsen a condition, later requiring more expensive interventions funded by the Municipality of The Hague. Or an elderly resident in a neighborhood like Zuiderpark with early dementia who refuses home care due to fear of dependency (psychological factor), burdening family and escalating the situation.
Under the Participation Act, welfare recipients in The Hague often face this issue: someone avoiding physiotherapy due to tram costs risks fines if participation requirements are not met. The RIVM report *'Avoiding Care in the Netherlands'* (2022) shows that 15% of low-income residents in cities like The Hague skip preventive care, illustrating these definitions in practice.
Rights and Obligations Regarding Avoiding Care
In The Hague, residents have rights to counteract avoiding care. Under the Wfz, you can seek assistance from the The Hague Legal Aid Office for advice on excess payments and subsidies. The Municipality of The Hague offers logistical support via Wmo (Social Support Act), such as transport arrangements. Obligations include utilizing approved care under the Wlz; failure to do so may result in penalties under the Participation Act. Consult the District Court of The Hague for disputes over benefits to prevent escalation and maintain access to local care networks.
Veelgestelde vragen
Wat is mijn retourrecht?
Bij online aankopen heb je 14 dagen retourrecht zonder opgaaf van reden, tenzij de wettelijke uitzonderingen gelden.
Hoe lang geldt de wettelijke garantie?
Goederen moeten minimaal 2 jaar meewerken. Defecten die binnen 6 maanden ontstaan worden verondersteld al aanwezig te zijn.
Kan ik rente eisen over schulden?
Ja, je kunt wettelijke rente eisen (momenteel ongeveer 8% per jaar) over het openstaande bedrag.
Wat kan ik doen tegen oneerlijke handelspraktijken?
Je kunt klacht indienen bij de consumentenbond, de overheid of naar de rechter gaan.
Wat is een kredietovereenkomst?
Een kredietovereenkomst regelt hoe je geld leent, wat de rente is, en hoe je dit terugbetaalt.