AHCJ Netherlands Health Care Study Group
Apply by Aug. 21, 5 p.m. CT.
A short webinar introducing the Dutch health system and offering tips for strengthening your application will be held at 1 p.m. CST on Monday, Aug. 10.
Americans historically have shown little interest in learning from health systems in other countries, but skyrocketing costs in the U.S. are putting medical care out of reach for millions of middle-class patients. This has stoked growing unhappiness about the American health care system. And it offers a new opportunity to educate Americans about how other wealthy nations organize their health systems and make care more widely available at more affordable costs.
To improve understanding of other health systems, the Association of Health Care Journalists will hold its 2026 Health Care Study Group in the Netherlands. It’s a weeklong in-person program for U.S.-based reporters to travel to the Netherlands, meet with health care leaders and experts to inform reporting projects for U.S.-based outlets.
The Netherlands offers an especially compelling case study for an American audience. It consistently ranks among the top-performing OECD health systems while relying on a model that blends universal coverage with regulated competition among private health insurers. Care is delivered primarily by private physicians and hospitals, and residents purchase insurance from private nonprofit health plans that are required to offer a standardized package of benefits and accept all applicants. The result is a system that combines broad access to care with patient choice and strong public oversight.
Like any health system, the Dutch model faces challenges, including an aging population, workforce shortages and rising costs. Yet it continues to deliver high-quality care with relatively low levels of unmet medical need and strong financial protections for patients. General practitioners serve as the cornerstone of the system, helping coordinate care and manage costs, while limits on out-of-pocket spending reduce the risk that illness leads to financial hardship. For Americans struggling with high medical bills despite having insurance, the Dutch experience offers valuable lessons. Special thanks to The Commonwealth Fund for supporting this program.
International reporting story examples
Here is a selection of stories reported from the Netherlands for a U.S.-based audience:
- The Netherlands makes aging and long-term care a priority. In the US, it’s a different story. (The Boston Globe)
- Going Dutch: Harm reduction is embraced in the Netherlands but struggles in the US (WWNO – New Orleans Public Radio)
- Americans’ struggles with medical bills are a foreign concept in other countries (The Los Angeles Times)
- A Tale of Two Systems: Primary Care Physicians in the U.S. and the Netherlands Reflect on Their Work
Expectations
Candidates must be U.S.-based, working journalists who qualify for AHCJ professional membership with at least 10 years’ experience as professional journalists, preferably with strong experience covering health care policy and delivery at the national or regional level.
Participants in the study group will:
- Travel to the Netherlands for a weeklong immersive experience with a small cohort of U.S. journalists.
- Meet with Dutch health officials, providers, researchers, labor leaders and patients to explore core elements of the system.
- Participate in site visits to hospitals, physician offices and health agencies.
- Visit cultural and historical sites to provide broader context for reporting.
- Develop or advance reporting projects for U.S. outlets on topics around cost, coverage, equity or care delivery.
What’s Covered?
- Round-trip airfare, lodging, local transportation and meals.
- A prepaid expense card for meals and incidental costs (with receipts required).
- Travel insurance.
- A year’s membership in AHCJ (new or extended).
- Mentorship and time for independent reporting during the week.
Tentative Schedule
- July 2026: Applications open (July 22) and informational webinar held (August 10).
- August 2026: Applications close; finalists interviewed and selected.
- September 2026: Travel logistics and program finalized.
- November 2026: Study group travels to the Netherlands.
- March 2027: Projects published.
Application Checklist
Applications will open July 22, 2026, and will be available on this page. Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis, so apply early. The final deadline to submit applications is August 21, 2026, at 5 p.m. CST.
Only applicants with valid passports may participate in this program. Your passport must be valid through May 2027 due to international travel restrictions.
Applicants must submit:
- A one-sentence summary of your proposal.
- A short project proposal focused on an aspect of the Netherlands’ health care system (equity, cost, coverage or care).
- A cover letter that includes:
- Information on why you are applying for the work study opportunity and how it will help your professional development.
- A paragraph on the impact reporting on this project will have (quantitative and qualitative).
- A paragraph on the primary audience/demographic for the project (who you’re serving).
- A letter of recommendation from your current employer outlining how the work study will benefit you and your audience, and confirming their commitment to your participation. Freelancers should submit a letter from an assigning editor confirming their commitment to publish the final project.
- A current resume or CV.
Questions? Contact AHCJ Program Manager Jyoti Madhusoodanan at jyoti@healthjournalism.org.