Paying the bill
Do you have health insurance with supplemental dental insurance? Then you will be reimbursed for dental costs in accordance with the policy conditions. In some cases, the dentist will send the invoice to the insurance company. It depends on the agreement and contract your dentist and insurance company have. Did you receive the invoice? You can send it to your insurance company. You can also often choose to receive your invoice electronically. You will be reimbursed afterwards.
Going to the dentist without insurance
Do you need to go to the dentist? You don't need to have health insurance to go to the dentist. If you are not insured or don’t have supplemental dental insurance, you can still go to the dentist. But you will have to pay the costs yourself and you won’t get reimbursed. Have you just applied for insurance with dental coverage, but don't have an insurance number yet? Then you have to pay the costs yourself. But if the dental appointment was on or after the effective date of your insurance, you can send the invoice to your insurer. You will then be reimbursed for the costs.
How do I find a dentist?
Independer can definitely help you find a dentist in your area. Unfortunately this part of the website is not available in English. But using the site is simple. All you have to do is fill in your postcode and which specialization you are looking for. The search results will display the relevant dental practices and their contact information. You can contact the practice directly for an appointment.
Do I pay my excess?
You do not pay any excess (in Dutch: eigen risico) for a visit to the dentist.
Health insurance reimbursem*nt
Basic insurance
In principle, costs for the dentist are not covered by the basic insurance. Only in the case of a number of special conditions can you apply for reimbursem*nt. For example, in the case of a very serious development or growth disorder of the mouth, teeth or jaw. Is this the case for you and do you qualify for reimbursem*nt from the basic insurance? Don't forget that you then have to pay the excess on this as well.
Supplemental insurance
In most cases, dental costs are not covered by the basic insurance. Fortunately, you can take out supplemental insurance for this. You can choose between coverage of 250 and 1250 euros. If you choose a dental insurance above 500 euros, you almost always have to provide your medical history. If you expect a lot of expenses, there is a good chance that the insurer will not accept you for this supplemental insurance. They may offer you a package with a lower fee. Note: Did you already have a package with a high dental reimbursem*nt this year? Then you're more likely to be accepted.
In some cases you can also opt for a policy that provides 75% reimbursem*nt. You will only be reimbursed for 75% per invoice up to a maximum amount. The monthly premium of this type of insurance is therefore lower than if you were to get 100% reimbursem*nt.
Good to know: You can choose which dentist you want to go to. The dentist you choose does not need to have a contract with the insurer. However, an advantage of going to a contracted dentist is that your bill is often sent directly to your health insurance company. You don't have to pay the costs first. Of course, if you don't have supplemental insurance for dental expenses, you'll ultimately pay the full amount. The insurer will then recover the costs from you.
Should I take out dental insurance or not?
Before you take out dental insurance, it is a good idea to calculate whether this is beneficial in your situation. Do you rarely have problems with your teeth and is a yearly dental check-up enough for you? If so, it’s probably better to pay these costs yourself. In this case, you probably don’t need supplemental dental insurance.
Do you need to visit the dentist or dental hygienist several times a year or do you regularly have problems with your teeth? If so, dental insurance could save you money.
