Dental Insurance - Pros and Cons
Dental Plans to Help Maintain Healthy Teeth and Prevent Gum Disease
Mar 10, 2009
Dental examinations are free in Scotland and 80% of dental care costs are paid for by the state. Dental treatment in England is only free for those under 18, in full-time education, receiving specific benefits, on a low income and who are pregnant or had a child within the last year. All other categories will have to pay for their dental care, hence the reason increasing numbers are taking out dental insurance.
Why Consider Dental Insurance?
- Dental costs. Dental insurance covers the cost of dental care, such as gum disease and removing rotten teeth, that the NHS no longer financially assists with. As a new patient, an examination including X-rays might cost around £50, one white filling up to around £110, and root-canal work on a molar around £350;
- Peace-of-mind. Having a dental plan creates peace-of-mind. Dental surgery can be very expensive and dental insurance helps cover the associated cost;
- Regular dental check-ups. Having dental insurance encourages patients to get more regular check-ups because they don't have to pay cover the cost of dental surgery. Regular check-ups allow the detection of problems before they become more serious.
The Negatives of Dental Plans
- Dental assessment. A dentist will perform an assessment of a patient's teeth and this information will be provided to the dental insurance company. This will mean that higher risk patients will face higher monthly premiums or may even be rejected;
- Monthly premiums. A dental plan isn't cheap, especially if someone has a history of needing dental treatment or dental surgery;
- Exclusions. Dental insurance rarely covers the cost of: orthodontic work, dental implants or cosmetic dentistry. Policies should be checked for other exclusions;
- Ceiling on charges. Most dental plans impose a limit in terms of how much they will cover each year in dental care charges. The more expensive dental insurance policies offer higher limits;
- Complexity. Many dental insurance policies are complicated meaning that it can be difficult for people to choose the right dental plan.
Brushing teeth costs pennies, but rotten teeth and gum disease is not only physically painful, it is financially costly. The relative complexity of dental insurance policies mean that it is sensible to utilise the services of a dental plan broker. They will be able to trawl the market and identify the most appropriate and cheapest source of dental insurance.
Those that found this article useful may also be interested in taking out critical illness insurance or life insurance to protect their families. Taking out pet insurance can, in certain instances, help save families thousands of pounds in veterinary bills.
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