Coöperatie VGZ

What Coöperatie VGZ does

Coöperatie VGZ is one of the largest non-profit cooperative health insurers in the Netherlands, founded in 1741 in Nijmegen as a mutual aid fund established by a guild of carpenters. Operating as a cooperative without share capital (Coöperatie VGZ UA), it serves approximately 4 million customers across nine sub-brands — VGZ, VGZbewuzt, UnitedConsumers, Univé Zorg, ZEKUR, UMC Zorgverzekering, IZA, IZZ, and Zorgzaam — positioning it as a Top 2 health insurer with market leadership in seven Dutch regions. The cooperative executes two statutory mandates: the Zorgverzekeringswet (Zvw, basic health insurance) nationwide and the Wet langdurige zorg (Wlz, long-term care) administration in seven regions through VGZ Zorgkantoor.

Its technology and product portfolio spans insurance administration, digital health services, and provider-facing platforms. Core offerings include the VGZ App with Service Store, telemonitoring platforms for chronic conditions (COPD, heart failure) that have freed up approximately 1,300 hospital FTE, the Online Medicijn Service in partnership with Med app and Nationale Apotheek for digital medication ordering and reminders, and decision-support tools such as the Liesbreuk Keuzehulp. Additional digital health products include the DISCoVR VR autism training tool, MijnIBDcoach chronic bowel monitoring app, ikHerstel post-operative recovery app (9–12 day faster recovery), and the Persoonlijke gids bij hartfalen pilot. Provider-facing infrastructure includes the MOZA portal for contract and declaration management and the Netwerk Zinnige Zorg transformation network connecting 20 healthcare organizations (13 hospitals, 4 GGZ institutions, 3 VVT institutions) across 10+ regions, with 25+ active transformations, 189 Good Practices, and 80+ FIT sustainability initiatives.

Revenue is generated primarily through recurring health insurance premiums under the Zvw framework, supplemented by Wlz administration fees and supplemental insurance premiums. As a non-profit cooperative, surpluses are reinvested into lower premiums, healthcare innovation, or statutory reserves rather than distributed to shareholders. Distribution combines nine brand websites, 130 physical Univé stores, and direct sales to employer collectives including municipalities, University Medical Centers, defense personnel, and healthcare workers. For FY2025, VGZ reported a €578 million positive result with a 155% solvency ratio, and announced a €36.60 per year premium reduction for 2026. Beyond insurance, the cooperative has committed €2.8 billion to care transformation plans and runs a 'Gelijk en Groen' sustainability strategy targeting health-equity and green healthcare outcomes aligned with 9 UN SDGs.

Name

Coöperatie VGZ

Legal name

Coöperatie VGZ UA

Website

https://cooperatievgz.nl

Company type

Private

Founded year

1741

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1,001–5,000 employees

Short description

Coöperatie VGZ is a Dutch non-profit cooperative health insurer founded in 1741, serving approximately 4 million customers through multiple sub-brands and executing statutory basic health insurance and long-term care administration in seven regions.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Health Insurance

NAICS

Direct Life, Health, and Medical Insurance Carriers (52411), Pharmacy Benefit Management and Other Third Party Administration of Insurance and Pension Funds (524292)

SIC

Insurance Carriers, Nec (6399), Accident & Health Insurance (6321)

akta.pro primary industry

Managed Care / Network-Based Group Health Plans (Carrier Network Products) (FSAIAFAO)

akta.pro secondary industries

Group Pharmacy Benefit (Rx) Coverage & PBM-Integrated Plans (FSAIAFAN), Membership/Subscription Concierge Virtual Care (HLALAAAH)

Keywords

• Health insurance services
• Mandatory health insurance
• Long-term care administration
• Cooperative health insurer
• Supplemental health coverage

Headquarters

HQ city

Arnhem

HQ country

Netherlands

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Operations, Personnel, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Health Insurance Premiums (Zorgverzekeringswet): As a non-profit cooperative, VGZ collects health insurance premiums to cover estimated healthcare costs. Any surplus is returned to members through lower premiums, invested in healthcare innovation, or used to build statutory reserves. Premiums are set annually based on healthcare cost projections.
2. Long-term Care Administration (Wet langdurige zorg - Wlz): VGZ Zorgkantoor executes the Long-term Care Act (Wlz) in 7 regions across the Netherlands for people requiring permanent intensive care, including nursing, care for elderly, disability care, and mental health care. This is a government-mandated function.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

Coöperatie VGZ is a non-profit cooperative that delivers statutory basic health insurance under the Dutch Zorgverzekeringswet, supplemental insurance packages, and executes the Long-term Care Act (Wlz) in seven Dutch regions. The cooperative operates multiple consumer and collective insurance brands — including VGZ, VGZbewuzt, Univé Zorg, ZEKUR, UMC Zorgverzekering, IZA, IZZ, and Zorgzaam — and provides supporting digital health services such as the VGZ App, telemonitoring, online medication ordering, and decision-support tools for its roughly 4 million insured members.

Product overview

Coöperatie VGZ is a cooperative health insurer serving approximately 4 million customers through a multi-brand portfolio, operating without profit motive since its founding in 1741. The company offers a unified platform approach combining health insurance products under multiple sub-brands (VGZ, VGZbewuzt, UnitedConsumers, Univé Zorg, ZEKUR, UMC Zorgverzekering, IZA, IZZ, Zorgzaam) with digital health services (VGZ App, Online Medicijn Service) and healthcare transformation platforms (MOZA portal, Netwerk Zinnige Zorg). The portfolio spans core health insurance products, supplementary care services, provider-facing tools, and innovation networks supporting appropriate care, sustainability, and digitalization in healthcare.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• VGZ: Main brand with over 2.1 million insured, one of the largest non-profit health insurers in the Netherlands.
• VGZbewuzt
• UnitedConsumers
• Univé Zorg
• ZEKUR
• UMC Zorgverzekering
• IZA
• IZZ Zorgverzekering
• Zorgzaam

Products and services

• VGZ Zorgverzekering

Quantifiable outcome

• Appropriate care reduces cost growth by 10%
• +6 more outcomes

Named customers5 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration3 records

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Eight partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Netwerk Zinnige Zorg (Transformation Network)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerA collaborative network of 20 healthcare organizations (13 hospitals, 4 GGZ institutions, 3 VVT institutions) working together to transform Dutch healthcare. VGZ serves as a founding partner, facilitating shared learning, scaling of innovations (25+ transformations), and development of nearly 200 Good Practices and 80+ FIT initiatives. The network operates across 10+ Dutch regions.
• Santeon (hospital network)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSanteon is a network of 7 teaching hospitals developing the 'Zorg bij Jou' platform for digital patient monitoring. VGZ collaborates with Santeon on telemonitoring initiatives that free up approximately 1,300 FTE in hospitals. The partnership has launched transformation plans totaling €2.8 billion.
• HagaZiekenhuisminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerHagaZiekenhuis is part of the Netwerk Zinnige Zorg, collaborating with VGZ on appropriate care initiatives under the transformation network framework.
• GGZ Noord-Holland NoordminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerMental health institution that developed the 'Herstel ondersteunende intake' (Recovery-supported intake) practice, which has been adopted by over 40 GGZ providers. Also developed 'Circulair slopen' (circular demolition) initiative achieving 99% material reuse.
• BuurtzorgcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerBuurtzorg is a home care organization with a multi-year contract with VGZ. They developed 'Spraakgestuurd rapporteren' (voice-controlled reporting) for efficiency gains and participate in the 'De buurt als Ecosysteem' initiative that aims to prevent, delay, and reduce care needs through neighborhood support.
• ThebeminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerHealthcare organization that developed the 'Het Potentieel Pakken' initiative, which achieves contract expansions within existing staff through smart scheduling. This initiative has been started in 36 healthcare institutions.
• Catharina ZiekenhuisminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in the 'Persoonlijke gids bij hartfalen' (Personal guide for heart failure) pilot, collaborating with VGZ, other hospitals, and patient association Harteraad to support patients post-hospitalization.
• CIZ (Centrum indicatiestelling zorg)coreOthersIndependent assessment center that evaluates whether people qualify for Long-term Care (Wlz) in the Netherlands. VGZ Zorgkantoor works with CIZ to determine care eligibility.

Scale indicators8 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• DSW Zorgverzekeraar: A Dutch cooperative health insurer with strong regional presence in West Holland. DSW is a direct Zvw competitor with a similar non-profit cooperative model and focus on member value.
• ONVZ Zorgverzekeraar: Dutch health insurer focused on supplemental and high-end coverage. ONVZ competes with VGZ's supplemental insurance offerings and serves a similar Dutch consumer base, though at a smaller scale.
• Zilveren Kruis (Achmea): The largest Dutch health insurer, part of the Achmea cooperative. VGZ and Zilveren Kruis are the two dominant players in the Netherlands statutory health insurance market, directly competing for insured members under the Zvw.
• Menzis: Another major Dutch health insurer with cooperative roots, serving the eastern Netherlands. Menzis competes directly with VGZ in statutory basic insurance and supplemental coverage across overlapping regional markets.
• Zilveren Kruis Zorgkantoor: Achmea's long-term care administration arm, executing Wlz in designated Dutch regions. Directly competes with VGZ Zorgkantoor in long-term care administration, offering a comparable regional footprint and government-mandated service model.
• CZ (Centrale Zorgverzekeraars): A large Dutch not-for-profit health insurer serving ~3.5 million insured. CZ is a direct competitor to VGZ in the Dutch statutory health insurance market with a comparable cooperative-style structure and broad product portfolio.

Emerging players

• Buurtzorg Nederland: Large Dutch home care organization with a multi-year contract with VGZ. While not a direct insurer, Buurtzorg is a key care delivery partner whose neighborhood-based model complements VGZ's transformation agenda and elder care strategy.

Broad incumbents

• Achmea: Parent of Zilveren Kruis and the largest Dutch insurance group. Achmea is a broader financial services and insurance incumbent (life, P&C, health) that competes with VGZ across health lines and other insurance categories.
• Nationale-Nederlanden: Major Dutch life and health insurer and part of NN Group. NN competes with VGZ in supplemental health insurance and broader life/health products, though it does not directly underwrite Dutch statutory basic insurance.
• a.s.r. Nederland: Large Dutch insurance group offering life, P&C, and supplemental health insurance. a.s.r. was previously active in basic health insurance (De Amersfoortse) and competes with VGZ in adjacent health and insurance segments.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/@cooperatie_vgz
• Xx.com/vgz

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles7 records

Subsidiaries5 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments3 records

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Coöperatie VGZ