Almost every Spaniard who has only recently moved to Switzerland has a story like this. A cavity, a scale and polish, or sometimes just a routine check-up. You go to the dentist, the surgery is spotless, the service is decent, and when they hand you the bill, you stare at the figures, convinced there must be a mistake. There isn’t. A basic clean can cost between 180 and 280 francs. A filling, between 200 and 500. A tooth extraction with complications, easily over 1,000. And then you discover that your health insurance – the one you pay a fortune for every month – covers practically none of it.
The LAMal, Switzerland’s compulsory health insurance scheme, does not include dental care in its basic cover. It is only covered in very specific cases: serious jaw conditions, accidents affecting the teeth, or treatments linked to specific systemic illnesses. Annual check-ups, fillings, orthodontics, root canal treatment: you’re responsible for the full cost of all these. This is exactly the opposite of what people expect when they arrive from Spain, where standard health insurance usually includes some form of basic dental cover.
There is private dental insurance, which is known here as ‘assurance complémentaire dentaire’ or ‘Zusatzversicherung Zahn’, depending on the canton and the language. But it has its own rules. Firstly, it does not cover treatments you already need at the time of taking out the policy: anything outstanding before the waiting periods – sometimes between 3 and 6 months – have elapsed is your responsibility. Secondly, most policies cover a percentage of the cost, not the full amount – generally 75–80 per cent – up to an annual limit of between 1,500 and 3,000 francs, depending on the policy. Thirdly, if you have a history of dental problems, some companies exclude cover from the outset or impose additional conditions.
As a result, many Spaniards living in Switzerland choose to have an annual check-up in Spain whilst on holiday, sometimes with treatment included. It is perfectly legal, and given Swiss prices, the savings can be considerable. That said, a medical emergency here won’t wait until August.