With the long queue of patients forming at NHS dental centers, many people are turning to private dentists. Private may be convenient in terms of booking of appointments but they do not come cheap. Private dental clinics offer several dental insurance plans and it can be quite intimidating trying to select the right one. Whatever plan you choose, get the following information from them before getting into a contract.
Key Points of Dental Insurance Plans
Cost : The overall cost of a dental plan is one of the main points for buying a dental insurance policy. As a buyer you will have to see whether your dental insurer will pay only for NHS treatments, only for private dental treatments or reimburse the cost of both types of treatments. Based on this your premium price will be fixed.
Panel : If you opt for a private dental insurer, you will have to get treated by their panel of dentists. If you do not wish to get treated by their panel of dentists, find out if you can go to your own dentist. It must be borne in mind that going to your own dentist will increase your premium price.
Coverage : Coverage is a crucial point in any dental insurance policy as it is the determining factor of the premium price. Find out what your dental insurance policy will cover and will not cover. Things usually excluded are cosmetic treatments such as whitening, orthodontics such as braces, dental inserts and sports injuries.
Waiting : This is the time period that you may have to wait for before your insurer starts to pay for certain dental treatments. Inquire from your insurer how long the period will be.
Types of Dental Insurance Plans
The way dental insurance plans work in UK is the more premium price you pay, the wider your dental coverage will be. Since having a dental insurance policy is not a legal requirement, each dental insurer offers different types of dental insurance plans. Within a dental insurance plan, you will find different levels of coverage. Some companies offer policies that cover only NHS dental treatments and will only reimburse for your dental costs treated by an NHS doctor of your borough. There are other companies that will cover only private dental treatments. These private dental treatments are usually of three kinds: preventative, minor and major. Each of these treatments has their upper monetary limit. There are several other dental insurers that will cover both NHS and private dental treatments.
Cost of Dental Insurance Plans
The cost of dental insurance plans varies from insurer to insurer. Shop for as many dental insurance quotes as possible from some of the top dental insurers such as Boots, HSA and WPA Providential. Once you have their quotes, compare them and choose the one that suits your finances and gives the best coverage.
Special Requirements
There are no special requirements; however there are some dental insurers that want you to have good oral health before they give you an insurance policy. Others might require you to sign a declaration form stating that you will come in for routine check-ups. Some UK dental insurers insist upon having a form signed by your dentist stating that your teeth are currently in good condition and are in need of no immediate major oral treatment.
Top Insurers and Plans
- AXA PPP Healthcare offers two types of dental plans: Dental Cash Plan Plus and Dental Cost guard. Dental Cash Plan Plus gives coverage to NHS dental costs, privately treated accident and emergency cases and mouth cancer treatments. Dental Costguard provides dental cover for accident and emergency situation while you are traveling. It also includes routine dental work from a private dentist or an NHS dentist. This is a budget insurance policy with a range of £7.95 per month for a single person, £9.95 per month if you buy the policy for 2 people and £11.95 per month for a family.
- Boots offers its clients 3 types of dental coverage: NHS plan, Private Level 1 plan and Private Level 2 plan. In the NHS plan, Boots will completely compensate your expenses if you are registered with an NHS dentist. The premium price begins at £9 per month. In the Private Level 1 plan, Boots will reimburse your private dentists bills up to a certain limit. It starts from £13.50 per month. The Private Level 2 plan provides coverage for high dental fees as billed by your private dentist. It starts from £19.50 per month.
- WPA Providential offers three types of individual dental insurance plans: First Steps, Level 1 and Level 2. ‘First steps’ covers the age group of a new born baby until a child becomes 3 years of age. The premium price of first steps is the lowest as it covers only general dental treatment. Ages 4-69 years are covered in Level 1; premium prices are lower in this level as it covers only dental injuries and certain oral problems. Ages 4-69 years are also given coverage in Level 2. The premium prices are higher as it covers general dental treatment, dental injuries and emergencies and WPA specified oral problems.
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