Introduction
If you are thinking about planned care abroad, one question comes up quickly: will my insurer pay anything towards it? The answer depends on the country, the treatment, your insurer and whether you asked permission beforehand. This article sets out the rules, mainly from the Dutch point of view. We work with clinics in Chisinau, so we are not neutral. We have therefore based the points below on official sources, which are listed at the end.
The short version
Inside the EU, you have a conditional right to reimbursement for planned care in another country. Moldova is not an EU member state, so you cannot assume those European rules apply there. For dental care, Dutch basic insurance also covers only a small part of what adults need. Do not count on a treatment in Moldova being reimbursed. Ask your own insurer before you book, and get the answer in writing.
1. Inside the EU: a conditional right to reimbursement
According to the EU's Your Europe website, you can in principle be reimbursed for treatment in another EU country if your own health insurance would cover the same treatment at home. This includes dental care. You are reimbursed at the tariff of your home country or the treatment country, whichever is cheaper. If you choose a more expensive private clinic, you pay the difference yourself.
Some treatments, for example those involving an overnight stay or complex procedures, need approval in advance. Without it you may not get your money back. If approved, you receive an S2 form, which can allow the provider in the treatment country to settle directly with your insurer. Travel and accommodation costs are generally yours to pay. Every EU country also has a national contact point for cross-border healthcare that can answer questions about reimbursement and procedure. The one in your own country is the right one to ask.
2. Outside the EU, such as Moldova
The European guidance on planned care covers other EU countries. According to the European Commission, Moldova is not an EU member. The Dutch Consumentenbond mentions the S2 form for the EU, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway, the United Kingdom and Switzerland, and notes that other forms apply for some other countries, such as Turkey and Morocco. We have not found an official source describing a reimbursement scheme for Moldova. Do not assume anything will be reimbursed, and ask your insurer how it treats care in this country.
3. What Dutch basic insurance covers for dental care
According to Rijksoverheid.nl, routine check-ups are not part of the basic package for people over 18. Surgical dental care, X-ray examinations and removable dentures are covered. Implants and orthodontics only fall under so-called special dental care, meant for people with a serious developmental disorder or abnormality of the teeth or mouth. Everything else you pay yourself or through supplementary dental insurance, which differs per insurer.
Whether a supplementary dental policy also pays abroad is in the policy terms. The Consumentenbond notes that some dental policies state explicitly that they apply abroad, while others say nothing about it. Read the terms and ask for confirmation. For more on what makes up the price, see Dental implant costs: what drives the price.
4. Permission in advance, and what to put in writing
The Consumentenbond advises asking your health insurer for permission before care abroad. This can take weeks, and for non-contracted care it is wise to arrange it in writing. For the application you usually need a first consultation with the foreign doctor, with a diagnosis and a cost estimate. Also ask the insurer what that first consultation costs and whether it is reimbursed.
5. Costs you carry yourself
If anything is reimbursed, the Consumentenbond says it is up to the Dutch tariff. Costs abroad are often higher, and you pay the difference. The deductible (eigen risico) always counts, and there can be own contributions and extra costs such as travel. At a hospital without a contract with your insurer, usually only part is reimbursed, with a risk of unexpected costs if there are complications.
6. If something goes wrong
Complications are the hardest part to judge beforehand. Ask the clinic who provides aftercare and what a correction costs. Ask your insurer and your travel insurer whether complications of planned treatment are covered, which is often not the case. The Consumentenbond also reports that after a hospital stay abroad you may first be nursed in isolation in the Netherlands because of MRSA risk. For more on choosing and checking a provider, see Is a dentist abroad safe? What to check.
Questions to ask your insurer and the clinic
- Is this treatment reimbursed in this country, and up to what amount? Can you confirm that in writing?
- Is permission in advance needed, and how long does the assessment take?
- Does my supplementary dental insurance also apply abroad?
- What is my deductible or own contribution?
- Are complications covered by my insurance or travel insurance?
- Will the clinic give me a written treatment plan and a quote that lists everything?
- Which documents will I get for my insurer, such as invoices in English?
- Who is my contact after I am home?
Our advice
Do not assume that treatment abroad will be reimbursed. Ask your insurer in advance, get the answer in writing and compare full written quotes. Talk to your own GP or dentist about your plans as well. Every treatment carries risks. This article is general information, not medical or legal advice, and rules can change and differ per insurer and country. Want to know what treatment in Chisinau would look like for you? Contact us for a free consultation and an all-in quote.
Sources
- Your Europe: Planned medical care abroad
- Your Europe: Costs and reimbursement for planned medical treatment abroad
- Your Europe: FAQ on planned medical care
- Consumentenbond: Planned care abroad
- Consumentenbond: Reimbursement for care abroad
- Rijksoverheid: Are dental costs reimbursed?
- European Commission: Moldova
