Up to €900 difference between health insurance funds in orthodontic reimbursement

Nearly one in three children receives orthodontic treatment during childhood. The reimbursement for braces can vary significantly depending on the health insurance fund you are affiliated with (in dutch ‘mutualiteit’ or in french ‘mutalité’). Even after all reimbursements, orthodontic treatment often remains a substantial expense for families.

The statutory reimbursement for orthodontic treatment through Belgium’s compulsory health insurance is identical for all health insurance funds. This reimbursement, provided by the National Institute for Health and Disability Insurance (RIZIV/INAMI), is paid through your health insurance fund. In addition, each health insurance fund offers its own supplementary reimbursement for orthodontic treatment.

How much do braces really cost today?

According to a Solidaris study published in March 2026, a complete orthodontic treatment lasts an average of three years. Based on the official statutory fees and excluding additional charges, the theoretical cost of a standard treatment is €1,210, of which €244 is paid by the patient as a co-payment.

In practice, however, almost all orthodontists charge additional fees. These supplements are generally not reimbursed by the statutory health insurance. According to the study, the median actual out-of-pocket cost for a patient is approximately €2,095 (excluding increased reimbursement status and retention). If rentention is required after treatment, the total cost can rise to around €2,485.

For many families, this means they still have to pay hundreds or even thousands of euros themselves.

Orthodontics: how much does your health insurance fund reimburse?

The statutory reimbursement for orthodontic treatment is the same for every health insurance fund. However, supplementary reimbursements differ between health insurance funds (‘mutalités’) in Belgium. The difference ranges from €600 to €1,500 per patient, representing a difference of up to €900. It is also important to note that some health insurance funds reimburse 100% of the eligible out-of-pocket costs (up to a maximum amount), while others reimburse only 60% of those costs. Some funds also provide additional reimbursement for exceptional or long-term orthodontic treatments.