This is how much it will cost • “Incredible change in the cost picture for the elderly”
The government’s investigators propose an enhanced high-cost cover for dental care for those over 67.
This means that you who are 67 years of age and older will receive cheaper dental care from 2026 onwards.
– It is certainly extremely long-awaited and gratifying for this group, says Lars Fredriksson, upper dentist at Folktandvården
Today, the final investigation into one of Sweden’s largest dental care initiatives for the elderly was presented. The investigation and the investigator Martin Färnsten propose a new system for dental care where the costs of common treatments are significantly reduced.
– This means an incredible change in the cost picture for dental care for the elderly, says Lars Fredriksson, senior dentist at Folktandvården.
That’s how cheap it gets
According to the proposal presented today, a regular dental treatment will cost between SEK 100 and 400.
– The big thing is that something called “ten dental care” is introduced for those who turn 67 in 2026. This means that they will have to pay 10 percent of the reference price that the state has set, says senior dentist Lars Fredriksson.
Lars Fredriksson explains that the state will cover 90 percent of the cost and that in this way it will be more affordable for the elderly who often have limited financial resources.
Rania: What difference will it make for the over-67s?
– Earlier in the reform it has been that you have to reach a ceiling, so to speak, first of three thousand before you receive any subsidy from the state, says Lars Fredriksson.
Focus on dental care for the elderly
The elderly population has greater dental care needs, often due to medical conditions and reduced saliva production, says Lars Fredriksson. The reform aims to make it easier for those with poorer finances to get necessary dental care.
– We know that we have fairly good, or very good, oral health and dental health in the younger age groups. The age group that is most diversified when it comes to dental care needs is of course the elderly, says Lars.
Investing in sparsely populated areas
In addition, the investigation proposes additions to dentists who work in sparsely populated areas to ensure that these areas also receive adequate dental care.
– The Stockholm region has about twice as many dentists as all the dentists north of the Dalälven. So this is a way to stimulate people to also take care of them in the countryside and establish themselves there, says Fredriksson.
Rania: What kind of addition is that?
– He had two different levels depending on how sparsely populated the area is, says the orthodontist.
About the new dental care reform:
• The idea is that a patient should pay 10 percent of the reference price for a treatment.
• For a common measure such as repairing a tooth, the cost will be between SEK 100 and 400 per measure with the investigator’s proposal.
• The state’s cost is estimated to be between SEK 3.4 and 4.5 billion per year in the first stage.
• When the entire population from the age of 20 is covered, the cost is estimated to be between 7.7 and 9.9 billion.
The dental reform is part of the Tidö Agreement between the governing parties and the Sweden Democrats (SD). The parties have already preceded the investigation by earmarking SEK 3.4 billion for strengthened high-cost protection for those who have turned 67 from 2026. In addition, free dental care for young people aged 19–23 will be withdrawn next year as part of the financing of the reform.
Source: TT
Today 11:01
Strengthened high-cost dental cover for all over 67s – “Long overdue”
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