Dental Insurance

It’s no secret that dental treatments can be quite expensive. Dental insurance plans offer a way to access high-quality treatment through monthly or annually payments. These plans may cover the entire family or only certain members of the family, depending on what you need. The aim is to provide cover for all kinds of dental treatments, including preventative treatment, minor or major treatment.

Dental health insurance policies may also cover only NHS dental treatments, or both private and NHS dental treatment.

Generally, your dental insurance plan will include limits that can be paid for a particular treatment, as well as a special limit for the total amount payable for that treatment during a period of one year. The cover may also extend to include dental emergencies. When you undergo treatment, you pay the dentist, and then you file claims to get the money back from your dental insurer.

Types of dental insurance plans

There are a vide variety of dental plans available, with a range of premiums. These premiums can differ greatly, and can often depend on the age of the applicant. Checkups are not really necessary before the premium is set.

Benefits of dental insurance

Dental insurance allows you not only to claim back the money that you spend on your dental treatment, but also to choose your dentist. You can claim dental expenses, regardless of whether you use a private dentist or a NHS dentist, although this may depend on the kind of dental plan you are covered under, and the insurer.

Dental insurance coverage

Although dental plans cover all major and minor treatments, they do not cover dental implants, treatment of injuries sustained during sports, cosmetic and orthodontic treatment, oral cancer treatment, salivary gland treatments and treatment of severe dental abscesses.

They also do not pay the entire cost of the dental treatment. Most only pay up to 75% of the total cost of treatment, and may place a annual cap/maximum on the amount payable. Your policy will also have a fixed maximum annual pay-out. Most plans will require you to enroll for cover at least three months before claiming expenses, but this differs according to the insurer.

Types of dental insurance plans

You can choose a capitation scheme, which requires you to pay every month. This scheme covers dental check ups, X-rays and tooth extractions. You don’t have to settle a bill every time you have a treatment, and the premium can be set after a dental consultation. The disadvantage here is that you can only receive treatment from dentists who have also signed up for a capitation scheme.

The premium depends on several factors, including your dental health. These plans are best suited for those who need regular treatment, and are therefore looking to spread their costs.

You can choose one of two types of capitation plans:

  1. Maintenance plans give you cover for two oral hygiene checkups, including X rays, and two dental examinations every year. There may be an initial signing-up fee, and you may be entitled to discounts on other treatments.

  2. Comprehensive dental insurance plans give you access to unlimited treatment. You will be charged a monthly fee, which depends on your oral health. The better your dental health, the lower the fee.

Cash plans provide partial cover for dental treatment, besides general health screening and other treatments. Here, the cover provided can be between 50% and 75%.

Eligibility for dental insurance

Most insurers will insist that you have no dental work pending, and that you have reasonably good dental health. Some may even ask you to declare in writing that you visit a dentist regularly for a checkup.

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