Dental insurance discussion area

nim_2

NHS dentistry is effectly no longer available in our area - see http://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/showthread.html?t=143212

The various insurance options appear to effecively exclude children - General Dental Treatment and Dental Emergencies are not included for anyone under the age of 18, as children under this age are entitled to receive free treatment under the NHS - which is a problem if there is no available NHS dentistry in the area.

Any ideas?

magentadreamer

Nim, my dentist went private a while back BUT DD aged 8 is seen as an NHS patient due to the fact I'm registered with them. you might find other dentists do this scheme as well.

nim_2

magentadreamer wrote:

Nim, my dentist went private a while back BUT DD aged 8 is seen as an NHS patient due to the fact I'm registered with them. you might find other dentists do this scheme as well.

Thats how our dentist was doing things, but they say due to the new NHS contracts they can no longer do this - apparently it is age discrimination to do things this way. So the practice has to be wholey NHS or completely private.

magentadreamer

I think your dentist is talking a load of tosh! I took DD for her check up a month ago and just signed the form I normally do for her dental check up's. I wasn't informed that she'd need her own denplan cover either in the future or told how much it would be for her check up the next time I took her. It might well be that your dentist just doesn't want to do any NHS work at all and nothing to do with new contracts as those would be a national thing. I've just checked on my dentist's web site and it states treatment for adults can be done under Denplan or pay as you go. It doesn't mention any changes to childrens dentistry at all.

Just seen your other post on the other thread - I'm in West Yorkshire so will be ringing the Dentist first thing to find out!

Toothsmith

magentadreamer wrote:

I think your dentist is talking a load of tosh! I took DD for her check up a month ago and just signed the form I normally do for her dental check up's. I wasn't informed that she'd need her own denplan cover either in the future or told how much it would be for her check up the next time I took her. It might well be that your dentist just doesn't want to do any NHS work at all and nothing to do with new contracts as those would be a national thing. I've just checked on my dentist's web site and it states treatment for adults can be done under Denplan or pay as you go. It doesn't mention any changes to childrens dentistry at all.

Just seen your other post on the other thread - I'm in West Yorkshire so will be ringing the Dentist first thing to find out!

Unfortunately not.

This is what the new contract means.

Some dentists are being allowed to have an NHS contract for their existing child patients, but if they take on a single new child patient, then their list opens up for all categories of patients to join their practice on the NHS. This is at the discretion of the PCT though.

This would mean that all new child patients, could only be seen privately - even if it's a newborn sibling of a child already on your list.

This is such a minefield that a lot of dentists (Me included) even if their PCTs are willing to offer child only contracts, are having nothing to do with the new contrick!

I'm probably not a million miles away from you in West Yorkshire, and I know many dentists are planning to bail out, and those that aren't are just sticking with it until the first sign of 'funny business' from the PCT or DoH when they will drop it like a hot brick.

magentadreamer

Arghhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh! I shall definetly be ringing them to find out whether or not DD is going to be covered now. This government amazes me, I can not believe that bit by bit our children will not be entitled to free dental treatment. How many parents are going to end up taking their child infrequently because they can't afford the price of a dental check up? I suspect a fair few unfortunately not because they can't be bothered to pay but because they can't afford to pay the £30 plus for just a routine check up.

toothsmith are children able to sign up for denplan???

Toothsmith

There is a specific Denplan for Children policy.

From today's SUNDAY TELEGRAPH

neosalad

I just went to the dentist last week for a check up, as i hadnt been in 3.5 years
i was shocked that when he said i had some minor decay around some fillings already it was in the region of £250! and when he told me it was now £30 for a check up i nearly fell off my seat. it had only been around £8 or so last time i had been.. but i hadnt realised he has since went private-private and no longer NHS,which does explain a bit.
but he did tell me about denplan, which i have now signed up for.. he says it will include the treatment i would be needing and include the check up fee... in the lower band. @ rate of £11.50 a month..

To me, £11.50 a month seems expensive for what it is, but considering if it was gonna cost maybe £60 on NHS (dont know for sure... teeth feel fine!)(i am sure his prices are greatly inflated now) but as i have had this dentist for many many years back to when i was 11 or so, nearly 30 now i dont fancy the idea of trying to find another NHS one now.

Talked to soem people and yes, dentist fees can seem to be expensive. but some peope i talk to pay only £10-£15 for a check up, nothing like the £30 i was goign to be charged, and fillings also can vary hugely in price...

has anyone here been with denplan a while and got good or bad experience of it? or has anyone left, and had any problems leaving and getting back to a NHS dentist?

any feedback apreciated, as i have literally only just signed up with denplan and i think i have 14 days to change my mind from what it says on the form i signed. i know £11.50 a month isnt much, but i am not exactly loaded, far from it to be honest.

andy9808w

I would recommend Universal Provident for eg. A single female aged 23 the cost for:-
monthly premiums = 5.95
Routine treatment = 1,000 pounds
Dental emergencies = 5,000 pounds
Dental injuries(Accidental) = 1,000 pounds

budgetspice

Hi

My dentist is constantly telling me that my 3 baby teeth will fall out at any time. He has 'kindly' suggested implants, at around £2000 each ! :eek:

Does anyone know of any kind of dental insurance which would cover some of these cost?

Many thanks