Annual dental check-up back in basic insurance

Oral care is not a luxury, but basic care. Thanks to more than 345,000 signatures under the petition of Doctors of the World Netherlands This topic was recently on the agenda of a 'two-minute debate' in the House of Representatives.

A motion by the SP to annual dental check-up Including oral care in basic health insurance received broad support. Only the CDA, VVD, BBB, and JA21 voted against. It is now up to the caretaker government to implement this during the upcoming budget debate. This is an important first step towards more dental care in basic health insurance.

Oral care also an election issue

On October 29 The Dutch House of Representatives elections are underway. Oral health is a prominent issue: many parties acknowledge that the current situation leads to health problems and social inequality.

Some of the positions taken:

• VVD: does not explicitly mention oral care; actually wants less care in the basic package.
• CDA: wants stricter assessments of which care is included in the package; however, advocates for more dentists and a sugar tax.
• JA21: no position on oral care.
• GreenLeft-PvdA: wants to reimburse dental visits, physiotherapy, glasses for children and contraception.
• Volt: advocates for preventive and emergency dental care in the basic package.
• Animal party: wants to reimburse dental care, PrEP, contraception and breastfeeding guidance.
• SP: proposes to fully reimburse all proven preventive care, including dental check-ups.
• PVV: wants the dentist back in the basic health insurance package; "healthy teeth are not a luxury."
• FVD: wants dental care, physiotherapy and contraception included in the basic package; certain vaccines removed.
• BIJ1: advocates for a National Health Fund that covers all health care, including dentistry.
• Christian Union: wants to reimburse preventive treatments, check-ups and fillings of cavities.