Sudden unexpected trips to the dentist are costly. Finding an NHS dentist is difficult, while the cost of going private can be high, the average private checkup costs £44. Is dental insurance or a dental plan the answer?
Private dental insurance contributes towards routine treatment, dental emergencies and serious dental problems. Most dental insurance allows you to choose NHS or private treatment, but dental plans only allow you to use your own dentist.
Under a dental plan, in return for annual or monthly payments, you get a care contract/maintenance plan. The contract is between you and your dentist for a variety of routine treatments and check ups. Any treatment not covered by the maintenance plan has to be paid for by you to the dentist.
Cost varies hugely depending on how wide a plan you choose and the state of your teeth. You must have a pre-enrolment assessment of your teeth. Individual dentists set their own premium for each patient. Plans are for people with sound teeth, who are prepared to invest in preventative treatment and remedial work.
Dental insurance can be paid annually or by monthly payments for selected individuals or all the family, and you can use any dentist. Some policies only cover the costs of NHS treatment. Others cover the costs of private preventative, minor and major restorative dental treatments. There may be cover for dental emergencies and accidents overseas, too.
Tesco offers two insurances. Premium Cover for a family of 2 adults and 2 children provides cover for routine and restorative treatment for £49.50 a month; while Core Cover only covers all NHS treatment and is under half that price.
Dipa Mistry of Lorica advises: “Before purchasing any dental insurance you need to look at the limits for each type of treatment and what exactly is covered.”
The trend with dental insurance is towards paying for preventative care and regular checkups.
Dental insurance may not be cheap, but dental costs keep rising. CIGNA recently increased the limits on its top level Diamond plan after recording an increase in the cost of claims for preventative visits in London.
Get brushing!
From: Money Market
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