Dental insurance

What is dental insurance?

Private dental insurance covers the cost of any dental treatment you might need in a year. Dental treatment can be costly and it’s not included in most health insurance policies, although some insurers offer it as an optional extra for an additional cost. You may be able to receive dental care on the NHS, but for many people, it’s not free and there may be waiting lists for certain treatments on the NHS.

What does private dental insurance cover?

The best dental insurance policies in the UK typically cover you for maintenance including check-ups, scale and polish and X-rays as well as treatments like fillings, root canals and crowns. You can be treated at private clinics, NHS practices or sometimes both. Common exclusions include pre-existing conditions and cosmetic dental work, like veneers and teeth whitening. Exclusions vary from policy to policy so make sure you read yours thoroughly and know exactly what you are and aren’t covered for.

How do dental insurance policies work?

Most private dental insurance policies in the UK require you to pay your dentist for any treatment you’ve received upfront and then claim the money back from your insurer before a certain time limit, such as 12 months. In order to make a claim, you’ll need a full itemised receipt from your dentist.

NHS-only dental policies require you to pay a monthly premium and your insurer will cover the cost of your NHS dental treatment. Most policies pay out an unlimited amount towards treatment on the NHS over a policy year. If you want more than the basics covered, some policies will contribute to private treatment on top of NHS costs.

Some policies will pay the entire cost of routine treatment but they require you to pay an excess on emergency dental procedures and more expensive treatments. Also, some insurers will only pay a contribution towards the cost of treatment cost, rather than the full amount so read the policy thoroughly to understand what you’re getting before you take cover out.

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