Lessons from the Dutch Experience
article
The current Dutch disability insurance scheme (WAO) is heading for abolition in 2006. The scheme was introduced in 1967 as a unique approach to covering earnings loss due to long-term disablement. It was not only unique in terms of generosity and accessibility, but also in the broadness of its risk definition. The WAO integrated two pre-existing schemes: one covering work injuries and occupational diseases, and one covering other causes of disability. Like everywhere else, the work injury scheme was more generous, had a well-defined framework of loss categories, and offered immediate full coverage. And the definition of covered risk was limited and unambiguous. The unique step the Dutch took in 1967 was to broaden the work injury scheme to cover all disability contingencies, whether work-related or not. Its special features proved its weaknesses because it combined the usual generosity of a work injury scheme with a broad risk definition, including a wide range of non-specific, subjective health complaints.
TNO Identifier
575300
Source
Revue française des affaires sociales, 2, pp. 183-205.
Pages
183-205
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