Dental Insurance

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Dental Insurance

Many people in the UK struggle to visit a dentist under the NHS and are forced to go private, which then means getting dental insurance to cover the cost.

Dental insurance offers more flexibility as you get to choose your dentist and you can claim for treatment whether you use a NHS dentist or go private. Normally, you will pay the dentist for your treatment and claim the money back from your insurance provider.

Premiums are based on your age and can vary widely, so it is best to shop around.

Cover

Dental insurance policies often will not pay for the full cost of your treatment. Most policies set maximum payouts in any 12-month period and some will only pay 75% of the treatment with an annual maximum cap. You will normally have to enroll three to six months before using the plan, but check this with your insurer.

Dental insurance will cover general treatment such as crowns, root canal work, bridges, dentures and other laboratory work up to the maximum annual limits. Emergency treatment is also generally available through dental insurance plans but exclusions include cosmetic work and orthodontic treatment such as braces and implants.

However, treatment of oral cancer, surgical removal of roots, treatments on salivary glands and serious dental abscesses may be excluded from your policy.

Capitation schemes

Another option available is a capitation scheme. These schemes allow you to make monthly payments instead of settling a bill each time. The premium is determined after you have consulted a dentist. It covers regular treatment, including check-ups and can also cover fillings, X-rays and extractions and is ideal for keeping your teeth in good health.

One of the biggest capitation scheme providers is Denplan Care, and policies are priced depending on the dental practice you use and how healthy your teeth are. Some insurance cover is also provided under the Denplan Care policy.

The downside to capitation schemes is that you may have to change your current dentist as you can only visit a dentist that has signed up to such a scheme.

Remember to read the policy terms and conditions very carefully upon taking out a capitation scheme, as some schemes don't cover the cost of laboratory work such as crowns, bridges or cosmetic dentistry.

Cash plans

Dental Cash plans can be beneficial as they include health cover as standard. Providers such as HSA and Medicash offer part-cover for dental treatment, typically between 50% and 75%, as well as other benefits such as aid with optical treatment and health screening. Again, it's important to shop around thoroughly for the best deal to suit your health needs.

The NHS has a free search facility for finding NHS dentists and can be contacted on:
0845 4647