Health insurance reimbursement of dental care in Hungary

The aim of this study was to assess the annual health insurance reimbursement of dental health service in Hungary. The assessment base of the study was the annual reports of National Health Insurance Fund Administration (OEP). Only the data collected from the services in contractual relationship with the OEP and delivered in 2008 were evaluated. Dental care services are organised in different levels: general dental service, specialist dental care, special dental care on university level and inpatient departments. Our study covers primary, outpatient and hospital dental care. Dental care was supplied by 3.378 general and specialist dental care services at the end of 2008. For the hospital treatment of more serious cases 17 inpatient departments are available with 154 patient beds. Within the period of examination (2008) 23.6 million interventions were carried out in 7.6 million cases. The total health insurance reimbursement of dental care (including primary, outpatient and hospital care) was 24.92 billion HUF (88.82 million Euro) in 2008. The health insurance reimbursement of dental care in Hungary is approximately 2% of the total health insurance expenditures of the National Health Insurance Fund Administration (OEP). Within the period under investigation, the health insurance reimbursement of dental care did not change significantly.