Red Oak Tax Refunds Blog

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Dental benefits from PRSI

Posted on | September 29, 2009 | 2 Comments

Are you paying for visits to your dentist which you should be receiving as a benefit for paying PRSI or for having a medical card?

dentist

What’s Covered
In general, a normal person with healthy teeth will get one dental examination and two cleanings per year. You’re also entitled to significant cost reductions on fillings/extraction/root canal and host of other pleasurable treatments under PRSI. Furthermore, you can also claim tax back on more complicated treatments via the Med2 form (Note that you can even claim against dental work done in another EU country! But make sure you bring the Med2 form as you will need the dentist to sign it)

How it’s claimed
Dentists will approach the PRSI entitlements in one of two ways:

  • Good dentists will do their best to discover if your entitled to PRSI benefits before the treatment. They’ll either take your word that your covered by PRSI or they’ll make a phone call to check (which can take a few minutes). If your covered then the dentist will charge the department, or if your partially covered for the treatment then you pay the difference.
  • Alternatively, the dentist will charge you the full amount of the treatment there and then, they have to follow up with the department about your PRSI (and if you are covered will send you the refund). If this happens, make sure you follow up with your dentist about it. It takes around a month for the department to pay the dentist, so if you are due a refund and none is forthcoming, you may need to chase them!

At the end of the day, it’s your responsibility to know if your covered or not (as is the case with your general tax affairs), not the dentists, so find out what your benefits are and know your rights! If you are in any doubt, get in touch with the department.

Note that if your spouse is dependent on you, they are covered on your PRSI. Also note that children are not covered, you either have to bring them privately or you can go through your local health board to have them treated.

If you need help with your Med2 claims (or general tax affairs), why not get in touch with us at www.redoaktaxrefunds.ie or find out more about medical expense claims in our Top Tax Tips

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Category: PRSI, Paye Tax, Tax Refunds
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Comments

2 Responses to “Dental benefits from PRSI”

  1. Clare Harney
    March 2nd, 2010 @ 1:40 pm

    Hi there,
    I had dental treatment in 2008 that I paid for in full and my dentist was going to apply for my PRSI refund after my treatment ended. But I never finished all the treatment as I had to have surgery so my dentist never sent off the claim. I paid in full for a check up, xray and 2 fillings at a cost of €450. I have well over 260 weeks PRSI paid even in 2008. Can I now claim this or some of it back in 2010?

  2. John O'Connor
    March 9th, 2010 @ 9:39 am

    Hi,
    Unfortunately, these benefits were scrapped in Budget 2010, with no new appointments accepted under this scheme post January 1.

    With regard to your treatments in 2008 Clare, you probably best checking with your Dentist if claims can be made still, but I imagine this would be difficult

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