Iceland Health
Dental treatment abroad
The right to payment participation from Iceland Health is the same for dental treatment carried out within the EEA, the UK, and Switzerland as it is domestically. Iceland Health participates in the cost of dental care for children and pensioners, as well as in cases of congenital defects, accidents and illnesses of other health insured individuals, on the basis of laws, regulations and applicable co-payment agreements.
Thus, Health insurance companies generally pay 75% of general dentistry for pensioners abroad on the basis of the relevant fee schedule in effect in Iceland.
The condition for payment participation for dental treatment abroad is that the service is equivalent to that available in Iceland. The same rules apply in terms of which treatments must be applied for in advance.
Individuals who seek dental treatment abroad pay for the service themselves and apply for reimbursement with the relevant documents. Subsequently, Iceland Health evaluates how much, if any, payment participation an individual is entitled to.
Please note that travel expenses for dental treatment abroad are not reimbursed by Iceland Health. Also, be aware that any incidents that might occur during dental treatments carried out abroad are not covered under the Patient Insurance Act no. 47/2024.
Which treatments require prior approval?
Payment participation for the following dental procedures is subject to a prior application AND the issuance of Iceland Health's approval before treatment takes place:
• Dental implants in edentulous jaws.
• Regional imaging (CT scan) of the jawbone.
Treatment for serious congenital defects, accidents or illnesses.
The average processing time for applications for prior approval for the abovementioned dental treatment is 4-6 weeks after all necessary documents and information have been received by Iceland Health. The necessary documents and information for treatments that are subject to prior approval are:
A completed application for approval for dental work abroad.
A dentist's certificate , or appropriate imaging, demonstrating the need for treatment and that the planned treatment is in accordance with the condition of the jawbone. Please note that all documents must be dated and marked with the patient's name/ID number.
Information about the proposed position of the dental implants must be provided.
All documents must be submitted in Icelandic or English. If it is not possible to obtain documents from the dental office abroad in Icelandic or English individuals can have the documents translated by a certified translator. Please note that the cost of translation work is not reimbursed by Iceland Health. Special attention is drawn to the fact that translations performed by artificial intelligence that are not clear and intelligible will not be considered satisfactory.
Iceland Health may request further documents if necessary. Please note that the applicant is responsible for ensuring that all necessary documents, as well as any other documents that may be requested, are submitted to Iceland Health. If the documents and information needed to assess the case are not received Iceland Health will not proceed with further evaluation of the case.
Payment participation in dental treatment abroad is assessed based on the Health Insurance Act, the Regulation on Iceland Health Participation in the Cost of Dental Care, Iceland Health's rules of procedure, and any applicable agreements and fee schedules between the Icelandic Health Insurance and the Icelandic Dental Association. Individuals seeking dental services within the EEA, the UK, and Switzerland will have their payment participation assessed based on the abovementioned frameworks, not on the basis of any given fee schedule of a foreign dental practice.
Dentures
Iceland Health pays 75% of both the cost of the dentist and the dental technician for the construction of dentures (full dentures, implant dentures, or partial denture) for pensioners every six years. Relining of dentures is also paid for every three years.
Payments are made without application for pensioners, but otherwise only after approval of the application.
Fixed prostheses and dental implants in a dentate jaw:
There may be payment participation in the cost of dental implants or other fixed prostheses in a dentate jaw for pensioners.
Dentate Jaw: One or more natural teeth present in either the upper or lower jaw.
Up to ISK 146.677 may be granted for dental implants or other fixed dental prosthesis in dentated jaw located in front of the 12-year molars in each 12-month period, which is based on the date of treatment.
Iceland Health does not contribute to the cost of restoration of dental implants or fixed dentures if less than ten years have passed since a dental implant or fixed denture was placed on the same tooth or denture.
Iceland Health does not contribute to the cost of restoration of dental implants or fixed dental prosthesis if less than ten years have passed since a dental implant or fixed dental prosthesis was placed on the same tooth or dental position.
Dental implants in an Edentulous Jaw:
Iceland Health pays 75% of the pensioner's cost of inserting dental implants into an edentulous palate in support of dentures. It is also permitted to contribute to the cost of fixed dentures.
Edentulous Jaw: No natural teeth present in the upper or lower jaw.
Payment participation is subject to Iceland Health's approval before treatment begins.
If the application is approved, Iceland Health will subsidize the first 2 dental implants in the lower jaw and the first 4 dental implants in the upper jaw.
Iceland Health does not contribute to the cost of implantation of dental implants in toothed and edentulous gums during the same 12-month period.
Iceland Health does not contribute to the cost of dental implants in toothed jaw and edentulous jaw during the same 12-month period.
Prior approval is not required for payment participation in general dentistry abroad, i.e. treatment other than outlined under Which treatments require prior approval.
General dentistry includes:
Examination.
Diagnosing.
X-rays.
Regular check-ups.
Dental procedures.
Root fillings.
Periodontics.
Tooth extractions.
Removable dentures.
Individuals apply for reimbursement of dental expenses once the treatment has been carried out. Individuals who have received approval from Iceland Health for dental treatment abroad that requires prior application must also apply for reimbursement of the costs of that treatment once it has been carried out.
Note that fixed dentures such as crowns and dental implants in the toothed palate in front of 12-year-old molars are not covered by the general 75% co-payment of pensioners, but a grant is given for such work up to a maximum cost of ISK 146,677 in each 12-month period. The period is based on the treatment date of the project. There is no obligation to apply for fixed dentures or dental implants in the toothed palate.
Application for reimbursement and required documents
You must always submit a signed application for payment participation for dental expenses abroad along with the necessary accompanying documents. The necessary documents may vary depending on the treatment you sought. Read carefully through the list of necessary documents down below and make sure all the ones pertaining to your case accompany your application.
Iceland Health may request additional documents if necessary. If all the required data/information is not submitted initially, Iceland Health will request it once through island.is.
The average processing time for applications is 16-24 weeks from the day all necessary documents and information have been received by Iceland Health. If your case requires further requesting of documents and information it will not be put in line for processing until satisfactory documents and information have been received.
In order for your application to be considered you must always submit:
A completed application form, and
An itemized invoice, and
Payment slips, and
Other required documents, varying depending on your case.
A breakdown of the required documents:
A completed application form for payment participation in medical costs abroad.
2. A valid invoice issued from the service provider's accounting system showing an itemized breakdown of the work performed:
The dates of each treatment performed.
The price of each treatment performed.
The numbering of the teeth/quadrants treated in each treatment performed.
The surfaces treated on each tooth, in the case of fillings/repairs/reconstructions.
The number of root canals treated on each tooth, in the case of root canal fillings.
The numbers of the teeth on which dentures where applied, in the case of dentures.
3. Payment slips that match the invoices issued.
4. Common examples of required documents, depending on the treatment received.
Extractions
An X-Ray taken prior to the extraction.
Information about the numbering of the teeth that were extracted.
Fillings/repairs/reconstructions:
Information about the numbering of the teeth that were repaired.
Information about the surfaces treated on each tooth.
Root canal fillings:
Information about the numbering of the teeth that were repaired.
Information about the number of root canals treated on each tooth.
Implant insertions:
Information about the numbering of the teeth that the implant replaces.
Fixed dentures:
Information about the numbering of the teeth on which the denture was applied.
Removable dentures:
Information about the relevant area (upper or lower jaw).
Please note that this is not an exhaustive list, but it includes examples of the most common documents required with applications. If further documentation is needed in your case Iceland Health will request it through island.is.
The applicant is personally responsible for ensuring that all necessary documents and information needed, so that the case can be assessed, are received by Sjúkratryggingar within the prescribed time limits. Be aware that Iceland Health is not permitted, under law, to make decisions about payment participation in dental treatment and orthodontics any further back than two years after an application and all other required documents are received by Iceland Health. Iceland Health will not proceed with the assessment of individual cases until satisfactory documentation has been received.
All documents must be submitted in Icelandic or English. If it is not possible to obtain documents from the dental office abroad in Icelandic or English individuals can have the documents translated by a certified translator. Please note that the cost of translation work is not reimbursed by Iceland Health. Special attention is drawn to the fact that translations performed by artificial intelligence that are not clear and intelligible will not be considered satisfactory.
Documents must be submitted through Gagnaskil einstaklinga, to the Iceland Health offices or to our representatives around the country (such as District Commissioners). Document submission via email will not be accepted.
Iceland Health does not contribute to travel and subsistence costs for dental treatment abroad.
Medical expenses incurred in the country of residence of an individual with a valid S1 certificate are not eligible for reimbursement. Foreign medical expenses may only be reimbursed for temporary stays, for students, or when the purpose of the stay is to receive treatment in a country other than the country of residence.
If an individual with a valid S1 certificate travels to another country within the EEA (other than their country of residence), it is possible to apply for payment participation from Iceland Health.
If you cannot find the information you need, you can send an inquiry to Iceland Health