subject: Never Ever Dodge The Dentist [print this page] With dental insurance you have a large degree of flexibility and often the most popular aspect is that you can choose your own dentist. It's possible to claim for any treatment that you need, whether it's been carried out via an NHS dentist or one who works privately. Usually you'll need to pay up front for any treatment and then re-claim the money from your insurer. You're not normally required to have a dental check-up before taking out the insurance.
Having said all that, there are a great many different plans and premiums are normally age-based, rather than dependent on your dental state. This means that it's a simple matter to shop around and find out exactly what it's going to cost and exactly what the extent of cover is.
Quite often, dental policies will only pay the partial cost of your treatment. It's usual for policies to put a limit on the number of payouts on a 12 month basis and not unusual for them to require the insured person to contribute 25 per cent of the costs and to apply an annual maximum payout.
Dental insurance will cover the cost (with the limitations of the policy) for general dental treatment which includes fillings, crowns, root canal work, bridges and dentures. Other laboratory work would be covered on the same basis. Although emergency treatment is commonly covered, cosmetic work, implants and braces are excluded. Depending on the policy, treatment of serious dental abscesses, salivary gland treatment, root removals and treatment for oral cancer could be excluded too.
There are capitation schemes too. With these you make a monthly payment instead of settling bills individually. For these schemes you'll have to have had an assessment by a dentist and the results of this examination will be used as a basis for the premium charged. Regular treatment will be covered under them and these will include check-ups, fillings, normal x-rays and, if all else fails, extractions. If your teeth are in good order and you're just after maintenance then the schemes are ideal for you. You don't get to choose your own dentist under these schemes, unless yours is actually on the list that shows they've signed up to operate one.
If you think this may be the best plan for you, do check to see what's included as well as the general care outlined above. Check the policy terms and conditions with care. You may have to pay slightly more to cover things like crowns and cosmetic dentistry, should problems occur.
It's possible to take out a plan that would include health care, via a cash plan. Several providers offer such a scheme and you'd get part-cover for dental treatment - normally between 50 and 75 per cent of the cost. There are other benefits too, for instance help with treatment for optical problems and health screening. It's important to assess your health needs and shop around for the best deal.
If you're maybe new to the area and haven't sorted out a dentist yet the NHS website may be able to offer you some help. By going on-line and typing in your postcode in the dental service section, you'll obtain a list of dentists in your area, together with distance details. It doesn't necessarily mean that these dentists are taking on new patients, or are even willing to place you on their waiting list, but it's a starting point. More and more dentists are fleeing the NHS, making some sort of dental insurance plan more appealing than ever.
by: Michael challiner
welcome to Insurances.net (https://www.insurances.net)
