What will mandatory disability insurance for freelancers cost you? And more importantly: what do you get back if you drop out as an IT professional? For many IT freelancers, that answer is less reassuring than they think.
In this article you will learn what the Dutch mandatory basic disability insurance involves. You will see roughly what the premium will be, what the benefit is, and how the opt-out works. Then I calculate it for a typical IT freelancer.
This blog is for IT professionals working or starting as freelancers. It is general information, not insurance or financial advice. For your own situation, go to an independent advisor or accountant.
What is mandatory disability insurance for freelancers?
A public basic insurance against disability for the self-employed, officially the Wet basisverzekering arbeidsongeschiktheid zelfstandigen (BAZ). Every sole trader for income tax purposes is insured by default. If you have your own disability insurance that meets the requirements, you can leave via an opt-out. The intended introduction is 1 January 2030.
The bill has been before the House of Representatives since March 2026. At the end of September, a plenary debate had not yet been scheduled. There is also doubt whether 2030 is feasible. The UWV has to be able to handle it, and the Council of State was critical.
The reason: about three quarters of the self-employed are not insured against disability. Those who drop out fall back on their own savings or social assistance.
Who does the obligation apply to?
To sole traders for income tax purposes: those with business profit taxed in income tax. Think of a sole proprietorship or partnership. Most IT freelancers fall under it. If you work through a private limited company (bv) as director-major shareholder, you are not such a sole trader and, under the current proposal, you are not covered.
People who also work as an employee and are already sufficiently insured through the WIA may fall outside the BAZ too. Check this in the final law; the proposal may still change.
What will the premium cost you?
About 5.4 percent of your profit, with a cap. In the proposal that cap was around 171 euros gross per month, based on the 2025 minimum wage. For 2026 it comes to roughly 177 euros. The amount is indexed annually, so it will be higher by 2030.
The premium is calculated on your profit before the entrepreneur's deduction and SME profit exemption. If you earn less, you pay proportionally less. The premium is tax-deductible as an expense for income provisions. So net you pay less than the gross amount.
What does that mean for an IT freelancer?
Most IT professionals pay the maximum. Take a cloud engineer with a rate of 85 euros and 1,400 billable hours. Their revenue is then around 119,000 euros. After costs, their profit stays well above the level where the cap applies.
That engineer therefore pays around 177 euros gross per month, just over 2,100 euros a year. After tax deduction, it is less net. That is manageable. The real problem is not the premium, but what you get for it.
What do you get if you drop out?
A benefit of at most roughly the minimum wage, after a waiting period of two years. So for the first 104 weeks you get nothing from the BAZ. After that you receive a basic amount until your state pension age. The disability criterion is also strict.
For an IT freelancer, that is a big gap. Suppose you are used to a monthly income of 6,000 euros or more. The BAZ covers only a small part of that, and only after two years. Your mortgage, fixed costs and lifestyle are not built on that.
The conclusion is honestly simple. For most IT freelancers, the BAZ is a safety net under the safety net, not a full insurance. If you really want to protect your income, you need your own disability insurance.
How does the opt-out work?
If you have private disability insurance that is at least equivalent to the BAZ, you do not have to join the public insurance. That policy must, among other things, have a waiting period of at most 104 weeks, run until your state pension age and give at least an equivalent benefit. Your insurer applies for the opt-out with the UWV.
Even with an opt-out, you will probably pay a small contribution to the system, the so-called stability contribution. It runs through your insurer. The amount is not fixed yet; the discussion is about a few tens of euros per month.
Why the reference date matters
The proposal contains transitional rules. Those with a suitable policy before a certain reference date may keep it under conditions. Taking out a policy after that date is possible, but stricter requirements apply. The exact reference date has not been definitively set. Have an advisor check whether your policy qualifies.
What should you arrange now?
Do not wait until 2030. Until then, you are not insured through the BAZ at all. If you drop out next year, it does nothing for you. For an IT freelancer with a good income, your own disability insurance is often the sensible choice, regardless of what the law will require.
A few steps:
- List what you minimally need each month if you drop out
- Request quotes from several insurers or through an independent advisor
- Look at waiting period, end age, occupation definition and benefit level
- Check whether your policy meets the expected opt-out requirements
- Factor the premium into your hourly rate
Office work such as IT falls into a favourable occupation class at many insurers. The premium further depends on your age, desired benefit and waiting period. A longer own waiting period, covered by a buffer, lowers the premium. Want to know which other insurance you need? Read our blog on insurance for IT freelancers.
Factor it into your rate
Disability insurance is a fixed business cost, just like your laptop and your accountant. Those costs belong in your hourly rate. People who base their rate on their old salary often forget this. Read how you build your hourly rate.
How does this relate to the Self-Employment Act?
They run separately, but they do touch. The Self-Employment Act, intended for 2028, will test whether you work as a real entrepreneur. In the original proposal, provision for disability was one of the criteria. Whether that stays in the final law is not known yet.
So good disability insurance is not only financial protection. It may also help you demonstrate your entrepreneurship later. Read more in our blog on the Self-Employment Act for IT freelancers.
Frequently asked questions about mandatory disability insurance
When does mandatory disability insurance take effect?
The intended start date is 1 January 2030. The bill is before the House of Representatives and still has to pass both Houses. There is doubt whether 2030 is feasible. Until it takes effect, you are not insured through the BAZ.
How much premium will I pay as an IT freelancer?
About 5.4 percent of your profit, capped at roughly 177 euros gross per month in 2026 amounts. Most IT freelancers hit that cap. The premium is tax-deductible. The amounts are indicative and indexed annually.
Is the BAZ enough for an IT freelancer?
For most IT professionals, no. The benefit is at most roughly the minimum wage, after a two-year waiting period. With an IT income, that leaves a big gap. Your own disability insurance, possibly alongside the BAZ, gives better protection.
Can I keep my current disability insurance?
Probably, if it meets the opt-out requirements. There will be transitional rules for policies taken out before a reference date. The exact date and conditions are not fixed yet. Have your policy checked by your insurer or an advisor.
Does it apply if I work through a bv?
Under the current proposal, no. The obligation applies to sole traders for income tax purposes, such as a sole proprietorship or partnership. A director-major shareholder of a bv does not fall under it. The proposal may still change, so check the final law.
Conclusion: the premium is fine, the cover is not
Mandatory disability insurance will cost an IT freelancer around 177 euros gross per month, tax-deductible. That is manageable. What disappoints is the cover: at most roughly the minimum wage, and only after two years. For an IT income, that is a safety net, not protection.
For whom is this most urgent? For IT freelancers without disability insurance and without a large buffer. They are fully unprotected until 2030. For whom less? For those who already have good insurance that meets the opt-out requirements.
My advice: do not wait for the law. Arrange disability insurance that fits your income now, and factor the costs into your rate.
Want to spar about your rate and your safety nets?
Want to know whether your rate really covers your fixed costs, including disability insurance? Plan a no-obligation call with me. For insurance advice, I refer you to an independent advisor.
Note: this article is general information, not insurance, financial or tax advice. Amounts and conditions come from the bill as known on 30 September 2026 and may change. Consult rijksoverheid.nl and an independent advisor for your own situation.
