Sweden to give free dental care for under-23s
Sweden to give free dental care for under-23s
Sweden is set to raise the maximum age for free dental care from 19 to 23, following government negotiations with the opposition Left Party.
“It’s very clear today that class is an influence on dental care,” Ulla Andersson, economic spokesperson for the Left Party, told the Aftonbladet newspaper.
“This is a step in the broadening of Swedish welfare, and it’s very good news for all the young people in Sweden.”
Indeed, the Västra Götaland region has already trialed such a change – offering free dental care for those up to 24 – which saw twice as many 20 and 21-year-olds visiting the dentist compared to before the switch.
The nationwide change will be made in two stages, seeing the cap raised to the age of 21 by 2017 and then to 23 the year after.
The reform is estimated to cost 223 million kronor ($26.4 million) in 2017 and 463 million kronor in 2018.
“Of course, the earlier we can get this in place the better. But there are many systems that need to be adjusted, meaning that it will be tough to push it through quickly,” Andersson added.
The Left Party has managed to push through other health care reforms recently, including free mammography scans from the end of next summer and onwards, and free contraceptive pills for women under the age of 20, a move that will be rolled out after summer in 2017.
The Social Democrat-led government’s full autumn budget, which will include more details on the dental treatment plans will be presented on September 21st.
Source: TheLocal.se
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