Supplementary dental insurance
Best supplementary dental insurances (2024)
Index
0 min
Dental: What does basic insurance reimburse?
Basic health insurance (LAMal) only reimburses dental treatment if it's caused by an accident or serious illness If you want dental coverage, it's therefore essential to take out supplementary dental insurance.
In the case of routine dental treatment, the LAMal does not intervene in reimbursements. You will therefore have to pay for the following treatments:
- Implants
- Scaling
- Annual checkups
- Treatment of cavities
- Usual dental problems
- Orthodontics
- Root treatment
- Crowns
Hospitalization in the general ward allows you to extend your coverage to a number of cantons, provided that the hospital you choose is on the list of hospitals in the chosen canton. The daily amounts covered are limited and are set by supplementary insurance benefits.
What does supplementary dental insurance reimburse?
Complementary dental insurance covers dental treatment due to accident or illness, not covered by other insurance such as:
- Prophylaxis and dental hygiene
- Dental prostheses (crowns, post teeth, bridges and dentures)
- Radiography
- Conservative dental care
- Teeth extractions
- Corrections of dental malpositions
Beware of preconceived ideas: No insurer reimburses the full cost of orthodontic treatment. The majority of supplementary insurers offer reimbursement of up to 75%, applying a maximum cover that can range from CHF 1'000 to CHF 15'000 per year.
It is estimated that, on average, to be adequately covered by dental insurance, the coverage ceiling should be a minimum of CHF 5'000.
Which complementary dental insurance for a child?
On average, supplementary insurance premiums for a child range from CHF 10 to CHF 25 per month per child. Note that some health insurers offer additional options to complementary dental insurance in order to benefit from optimal cover.
It's important to check dental cover before taking out supplementary insurance. Indeed, coverage of costs can vary from 50% to 80% and the annual amount covered may be limited.
How to choose the right dental insurance?
In order to benefit from optimal cover, it's important to compare all the products offered by the various complementary insurance companies on the market. Comparea offers you a comparison live tool, among more than 41 companies compared.
When to take out complementary dental insurance?
In order to receive reimbursements for dental benefits without delay, we advise you to subscribe to supplementary dental insurance as early as possible. Some health insurance companies offer reimbursement only if the diagnosis was made after the supplementary insurance was taken out. Secondly, some health insurance companies maintain a waiting period (a period during which you cannot receive reimbursement for benefits) of between 6 months and 3 years.
Where to subscribe to complementary dental insurance?
The vast majority of health insurance companies offer complementary dental cover. They can be included in packages or offered on their own.
For a list of health insurers offering complementary dental insurance, feel free to consult our online health insurance comparator.
How much does complementary dental insurance cost?
A number of factors cause the price of your insurance premiums to vary, as below:
- The higher your age bracket, the higher your premiums will be
- The higher the annual fee cap you choose, the higher your premiums will be
- The lower your benefit co-payment, the higher your premium will be.
On average, we estimate that supplementary dental insurance costs between CHF 20 and 40 per month for an adult. For a child, the premium will be between CHF 5 and CHF 20 per month, depending on the insurance company and the criteria mentioned above.
Does my complementary dental insurance cover me abroad?
Most dental insurance plans offered in Switzerland only reimburse the cost of dental treatment carried out by a Swiss dental clinic. However, some service providers also cover treatment that takes place abroad. It is important to check with your health insurance provider before starting medical treatment or other dental services abroad.
Which dental treatments are covered by disability insurance (DI)?
In the event of dental problems, Swiss disability insurance covers orthodontic treatment for children, in the case of a birth defect. For example, disability insurance may cover orthodontic treatment to correct the jaw, in cases where the dental problem is severe enough to interfere with the child's future life.
What dental treatments are covered by accident insurance?
In the event that you are employed more than 8 hours a week for the same employer, dental damage caused by accidents is covered by your employer's accident insurance.
In the event that the accident occurs outside your work, accident insurance will also pay for treatment.
What dental treatments are covered during school?
School-age children benefit from a basic examination during certain school years. These examinations are paid for by the commune. In the event that dental problems are detected, some communes cover part of the cost of dental care such as orthodontics.
Which dental insurance is best suited to your needs?
In principle, you should compare the conditions offered by different funds in each case before taking out supplementary dental insurance. In Switzerland, you can choose from several different dental insurances. To find the one that suits your needs, we invite you to comparison dental insurance offers via our online comparator. In just a few minutes, compare over 40 health insurance companies to find the best rate.
In a nutshell?
Dental health is an essential part of our well-being, and it's important to understand how it fits into our insurance coverage. Dental care is not just limited to teeth, but also encompasses general health. Questions about the cost of dental treatment, and how it is covered, can often raise questions within a household. Braces, check-ups, dentist bills and other dental expenses can quickly add up over the course of a calendar year.
It is therefore crucial to take into account the condition of your teeth in order to choose the right cover and thus calculate your insurance premium accordingly. Indeed, supplementary dental insurance allows you to prevent and treat dental problems, to be taken care of in the event of a dental accident if necessary, and to benefit from adequate coverage for dental expenses. To get a complete overview of your insurance coverage, it's essential to consider all the frequently asked questions related to health, costs and data concerning your dental care. It's better to spend a few francs a year on a good supplementary plan than CHF 10,000 on a major dental emergency.
The choice of dental insurance therefore has a significant impact on the costs you'll have to bear. You need to take into account the potential services you'll need and their costs (costs in the event of braces, orthodontic fees, tooth and/or wisdom tooth extraction, annual dental check-ups, dental health check-up etc.) which may require costly dental intervention.
It is therefore important to request a detailed offer from your insurer to assess how your insurance covers dental costs, particularly those not covered by basic insurance. By examining your dental situation, you can better understand potential costs and choose the insurance premium that best suits you and your family.
In conclusion, subscribing to supplemental dental insurance can be a wise choice to preserve the health of your teeth and those of your family. By covering the costs associated with dental care, insurance offers essential peace of mind for your oral well-being. So you can enjoy regular visits to the dentist without worrying about the financial issues that may arise.
In addition, a good tip would be to regularly check the condition of your teeth and discuss with your dentist which supplementary insurance best suits your needs. By investing in your dental health today, you can avoid greater costs in the future and maintain a brilliant smile for a long time to come. Remember that the health of your teeth is precious, and complementary dental insurance can be an invaluable asset in preserving it.
At Comparea, we've developed a fast, intuitive and completely free comparison tool, designed to be totally independent. This tool will enable you to select the option that best suits your needs.
In addition to being a comparator, our tool also acts as a health insurance premium calculator, giving you the opportunity to estimate your premium. We place paramount importance on the confidentiality of your data, and our platform guarantees the protection of confidential data shared with us.
As we said earlier, don't hesitate to consult your dentist to fully understand your real needs, and ask your insurer questions to clarify any aspect of your dental insurance coverage.
Updated on: 01.02.2024Written by Alexis MilonHead of health insurance department at Comparea.To learn more about our team click here.