If you are going to be living and working in Morocco, then you will need to think about your options with regard to dental and ophthalmic care. We will look at some of your options below, but it’s worth noting that most expats in the country take out private cover for their health needs. This is because the quality of public medical care is often low (below the standard of care in the West).
How to register with a dentist
To find your local practice, which is likely to be private, you can either look on the internet or ask for recommendations from other expats. Do not be afraid to shop around, and make sure you ask for references and testimonials.
To what extent does national insurance cover dentistry?
The voluntary public health insurance scheme, AMO, covers basic dental treatment. However, as with other medical facilities in Morocco, dental care in the public sector might not be of a high standard. Dental care is seen as a luxury in the country.
Dentaid, a volunteer programme that sends European dentists to Morocco to assist with pain relief dentistry and oral health education in schools, among other care, reports that, in some schools, 70% of Moroccan children do not own a toothbrush. This is representative of the poor state of public dental health in Morocco more generally.
Accessing private dental treatment
There are a number of private clinics in the country, which specialise in a range of medical and cosmetic procedures. For example:
• Root canal treatment
• Crowns/veneers
• Fillings
• Extractions
• Cleaning and whitening treatments
Dental tourism is a growing market in the country.
Some sample prices are:
• Consultation: €40
• X-ray: €40 to €140
• Scaling: €80
• Teeth whitening: €470
• Ceramic crown (metal or zirconia framework): €470
• Full zirconia crown: €470
• Veneer: €650
• Onlay, endocrown or cerec crown: €470
• Partial denture: €370
• Complete denture: €930
• Root canal: €140 to €280
• Composite restoration: €60
• Simple tooth removal: €50
• Surgical tooth removal: €280
• Implants: €582 to €690
How to register with an optometrist in Morocco
Again, check the internet and/or ask for recommendations. You should find a reasonable amount of choice, particularly in cities such as Marrakesh and Casablanca. There may be less options in rural areas.
To what extent does national insurance cover optical care?
The voluntary public health insurance scheme, AMO, might cover some basic optical care.
Accessing private eye treatment
Your local ophthalmologist is likely to be in a private practice. Expats in the country report that lenses are cheaper in Morocco than in Europe or the USA, so it might be cost effective to order your new glasses while you are in the country.
You will find a number of centres for corrective eye surgery and other cosmetic optical procedures in Morocco. They recommend that you remain in the country for at least three to five days after laser treatment.
Check with your insurance provider to see whether they cover elective corrective surgery, and check with your clinic to see whether they will accept your particular policy.