Participation in payment for dental care

Pensioners and children can seek dental services to other countries within the EEA, the UK and Switzerland and subsequently apply for the payment participation of the Iceland Health in the dental bills.

Other health insured individuals are not entitled to participation of dental bills by Iceland Health unless it is due to serious consequences of congenital defects, accidents and diseases, in which cases an application must be submitted to the Iceland Health.

The conditions for participation in payment are that the healthcare service is comparable to the one offered in Iceland. The authorization for participation in payment is based on the so-called cross border health care directive (2011/24/EU). The purpose of the directive is to give EEA citizens the right to seek healthcare in any country of the EEA region and receive the same reimbursement as if the service had been provided in their home country.

Refunding of general dentistry

There is no need to apply for approval before a general dentistry treatment is performed abroad. Refunds for dental costs are applied for after the treatment has been performed.

From 1 February 2024, the Iceland Health payment participation is 75% of the general dental care of pensioners, in accordance with the contract on dentistry and with the restrictions stated therein. The same applies to payment participation in foreign dental accounts if treatment is applied for within EEA countries, the United Kingdom or Switzerland.

General dentistry includes dental examinations, diagnostics, X-rays, regular check-ups, dental repair, root fillings, periodontal care, dental extraction and loose dentures.

Please note that fixed dentures, e.g. crowns and dental implants, in front of 12-year molars are not under general dentistry. Icelandic Health has a grant for this, up to a maximum of ISK 139,196 per 12 month period, based on the treatment date of the work.

Iceland Health refunds in accordance with price list, which is available under Gjaldskrá og bótafjárhæðir (only available in Icelandic).

Note that Iceland Health is not allowed to pay more than the actual cost.

Application for reimbursement of foreign dental costs

A person pays for the dental services and applies for the payment participation of Iceland Health following treatment.

The following documents must be submitted with an Application for reimbursment of medical cost abroad:

• A recognised account from the service provider's accounting system, which shows a detailed breakdown of the work performed, including:

  • dates ofeach service

  • price of each piece individually

  • the number of each tooth treated in each service

  • name of each surface of each tooth, in the case of repair/filling/build-up

  • count of root canals in each tooth, in the case of root filling

  • count of teeth in dentures, in the case of a denture

• Payment confirmation(s)

• X-ray/s

  • If extraction was performed, a X-ray before the extraction must be submitted

  • If dental implants were placed, a X-ray after the implantation must be submitted

Iceland Health have the right to request further data if necessary.

Please note that Iceland Health can request that individuals have data that is not in English or Icelandic translated and that cost is not reimbursed by Iceland Health. We advise individuals to always ask for all data in English.

Cost or treatment plans are not accepted for calculation of payment participation.

The general processing time for applications is 8-12 weeks from the submission of all necessary documents.

Application-based work

In certain cases, a pre-approved application must be submitted before treatment is granted. Otherwise, the Iceland Health is not authorized to reimburse the costs. The same requirements are made for a pre-approved application for dental treatment abroad and in Iceland.

In Chapter II of the Iceland Health dental price list, you can find all the works that are only paid for after an approved application. Examples of this are dental implants in a toothless gum and a regional scan of the jawbone (CBCT).

From 1 September 2024, payment participation for implantation of dental implants in a toothless gum will depend on a pre-approved application to the Iceland Health.

A person must then submit satisfactory documentation in order to be able to consider the application:

• Application for approval for dental treatment abroad, which can be found under Eyðublöð og vottorð - Réttindi milli landa, Umsókn um samþykki fyrir meðferð vegna tannlæknaverks erlendis (only available in Icelandic).

• A dental certificate or appropriate imaging that demonstrates the need for treatment and that the planned treatment is consistent with the condition of the jawbone.

  • Information on the area of the dental implants must be provided

Iceland Health have the right to request further data if necessary.

Application for consent for treatment for dental work abroad can be found under Eyðublöð og vottorð - Réttindi milli landa, Umsókn um samþykki fyrir meðferð vegna tannlæknaverks erlendis. (Only available in Icelandic)

The general processing time for applications is 12-16 weeks.

Travel expenses

Iceland Health does not participate in travel and maintenance costs for dental treatment abroad.

S1 certificate

Foreign medical expenses incurred in the country of residence of an individual where a S1 certificate is valid are not refundable. Foreign medical expenses may only be refunded for temporary stay, as per Article 33 of Act No. 112/2008, for students or when the purpose of the stay is to receive treatment in a country other than the country of residence, as per Article 23 and Article 23a of Act No. 112/2008.

If an individual with a valid S1 certificate travels to another country within the EEA, the UK or Switzerland (other than the country of residence), then an application can be made to the Iceland Health for payment participation.

For further information on S1 certificates, please visit: Health insurance upon moving from Iceland | Ísland.is