Insurance Reimbursement (Health Fund Contributions)

Insurance Reimbursement for Dental Treatments Abroad

Many patients considering dental surgery abroad often ask: Will my health insurance reimburse part of the costs? The answer depends strongly on where you are insured and where the treatment is carried out. While the rules are sometimes complex, there are clear frameworks in place, especially within the European Union, that make it possible to receive reimbursement for treatments such as crowns, bridges, or dentures performed outside your home country.

Below you will find an overview of how reimbursement works in different regions.

European Union (General Rules)

Since 2005, members of statutory health funds in the EU are entitled to a fixed subsidy (known as a “standard contribution” or “Festzuschuss”) for dental prosthetics. This contribution is paid regardless of whether the treatment is performed in the home country or in another EU member state.

The key requirement is that a treatment and cost plan (in Germany, called the “Heil- und Kostenplan”) is submitted to the health fund before the treatment and receives approval. After the procedure, patients must submit the final invoice together with proof of payment in order to receive the subsidy.

Germany

For patients insured in Germany under statutory health insurance (GKV), the rule is straightforward:

• You are entitled to the fixed subsidy even if your treatment is done in another EU country or Switzerland.
• For implants, the subsidy applies to the prosthetic part (crown/bridge), while the surgical part of the implant is usually paid privately.
• Treatments in non-EU countries such as Turkey are generally not covered, unless the treatment is deemed medically essential and cannot be carried out in Germany.

Austria

In Austria, patients with statutory health insurance (ÖGK and others) can also receive reimbursement for treatments carried out within the EU or Switzerland. Here, too, it is necessary to submit the treatment plan in advance. Reimbursement is based on Austrian tariffs and usually lower than the private clinic invoice. Patients must pay first and then claim reimbursement afterwards.

Switzerland

The Swiss system is different. The basic health insurance (LAMal/KVG) generally does not cover routine dental treatments such as crowns, implants, or veneers. Only if the dental problem is directly caused by a serious systemic illness or accident may the basic insurance intervene. For all other cases, patients must rely on supplementary dental insurance, if they have one. Reimbursement for treatment abroad is rare and requires prior authorisation.

United Kingdom

The UK’s NHS can, under certain circumstances, reimburse treatments carried out in the EU through the S2 scheme or the Cross-Border Healthcare Directive. However, this applies only to state-provided treatments in the EU and requires prior approval. Private treatment abroad – whether in Turkey, Switzerland, or elsewhere – is not covered by the NHS.

Scandinavia (Sweden, Denmark, Norway, Finland)

The Scandinavian countries operate similar systems within the EU framework:

• Patients can receive reimbursement for treatments carried out in another EU or EEA country, provided that the same treatment would have been reimbursable at home.
• Typically, the patient pays upfront and submits the invoice afterwards for partial reimbursement.
• In Norway, as an EEA member, the system applies in defined cases through HELFO, but only for treatments normally covered in Norway.
• Cosmetic treatments such as veneers or whitening are not eligible for reimbursement.

United States

In the U.S., dental treatment abroad is usually not covered by Medicare and is only covered by private dental insurance if specifically included in the plan. Some premium dental or international health plans may cover part of the costs, but for the majority of patients, dental care abroad must be paid out-of-pocket.

Canada

In Canada, provincial health plans do not cover routine dental care either at home or abroad. Some provinces cover dental surgery only if carried out in hospitals. For treatment abroad, patients generally need private dental insurance. Even then, reimbursement is typically limited to the cost that would have been paid in Canada – which is often far lower than the actual bill abroad.

Australia

In Australia, Medicare does not cover routine dental treatments, whether at home or abroad. Reimbursement is only possible through private health insurance policies, and patients must check individually whether international treatment is covered. In most cases, dental surgery performed overseas is not reimbursed, and patients pay privately.