When the Medical Committee of the Social Security Office (SSO) approved the enhancement of dental benefits to help reduce the financial burden of insured persons, the new coverage is expected to take effect within the third quarter of 2025. This improvement marks a significant change, as the cost of wisdom tooth extraction will now be separated from the existing dental coverage, allowing insured persons to access benefits more comprehensively.

What are the existing dental benefits?

Previously, the dental benefits for insured persons under Section 33 and Section 39 allowed reimbursement of up to 900 THB per person per year. This coverage included four types of basic treatments:

• Scaling

• Filling

• Tooth extraction

• Wisdom tooth removal

This means that if the cost of wisdom tooth removal exceeded 900 THB, the insured person had to cover the remaining balance entirely out of pocket. As a result, many felt that the benefit was insufficient compared to the actual expenses.

According to the latest resolution of the Social Security Office (SSO) Medical Committee, insured persons will now receive the following new benefits:

1. Separate Coverage for Wisdom Tooth Extraction from the 900-Baht Dental Benefit

This is the core of the latest improvement. Insured persons can still use the existing 900-baht allowance for basic dental care (scaling, filling, extraction) as usual. On top of that, they now receive an additional, separate benefit specifically for wisdom tooth extraction, with the following rates:

• Simple extraction (no bone removal required): Up to 1,500 baht per tooth

• Complex extraction (bone removal required): Up to 2,500 baht per tooth

2. Basic Dental Care May Be Reimbursed on an Actual-Cost Basis at Public Hospitals

In addition, there is consideration to change the basic dental care benefits (scaling, filling, extraction) from the fixed 900-baht annual allowance to a reimbursement based on actual costs when receiving treatment at public hospitals. This adjustment will allow insured persons to access higher-quality services without having to pay out-of-pocket, as long as the costs do not exceed the prescribed limits.

This resolution will be submitted for further consideration by the Social Security Committee. If approved, it is expected to take effect between August and September 2025.