Riiklik kindlustus on enamasti sundkindlustus; mõnel maal on mõned erakindlustuse vormid samuti kohustuslikud. Tööandja skeemid on sageli kohustuslikud selles mõttes, et töötajad on kohustatud nendega ühinema, kuid nad võivad olla vabatahtlikud selles mõttes, et tööandjal ei pea kindlustusskeemi olema.
... the spouse of an employed person or of a self-employed person covered by a compulsory insurance scheme, residing in a Member State other than the Netherlands, shall be authorised to take out voluntary insurance under that legislation, but only for the periods after 2 August 1989 during which the employed person or self-employed person is or was compulsorily insured under the abovementioned legislation.
